RESIDENTS in a road blighted by a rubbish-strewn property have formed a campaign group to pressure its owner into cleaning up his act.

Since the Guardian highlighted the condition of the garden at 31 Amberley Road, in Buckhurst Hill, last week much of the rubbish in it has been cleared into a nearby skip.

Numerous items had been dumped in the garden of the property owned by developer Michael Hill, with items including a kitchen sink, fridge, and shopping trolley.

Last week a number of concerned residents in Amberley Road and its surrounding roads held a meeting at the Parish Information Centre, in Queen's Road, to speak of their fears.

Chaired by district councillor Ann Haigh and with community police in attendance, the meeting heard from about 30 residents all concerned that the poor condition of the grounds of Mr Hill's property was impacting on the entire community.

Residents spoke of frequent bonfires on the site and the smell of diesel fumes which had resulted in complaints from local properties several streets away.

A spokesman for the residents at the meeting said: "The Amberley Road residents do feel that Mr Hill has started to deal with problems at number 31. There is a skip and sign of clear up.

"He needs to realise that nobody in the local area wants to live with this mess. Not all residents oppose his plans, but we are united in our disgust at his tactics.

"We have all had major building work done over the years. Yes you do have to break eggs to make an omelette, but the cooking does not usually last for months on end. Nor is it accompanied by paint daubed signs, football flags, rusty cars and caravans, broken fences and destroyed trees."