FURIOUS residents have criticised builders at a controversial development for starting work at 6am during the Christmas holidays.

Families living in Epping High Road and Beech Place say their peace was shattered when the workmen began "crashing about" at the nearby McCarthy and Stone site, where 28 sheltered housing flats are currently being built.

Resident and campaigner Hugh Farish said he was woken by the builders just after 6am on Bank Holiday Monday and at the same time again today (Tuesday December 29).

He said: "Three builders and a crane driver spent the morning crashing about on the site lifting pallets of timber and hammering various roofing trusses.

"To come and disturb us with totally unnecessary noise shows a total disregard for the privacy and enjoyment of others."

Neighbour Maxine Starling said: "Monday was supposed to be an official Bank Holiday and I find it disrespectful that they were working on that day.

"The building work does create a disturbance for us and to do it at this time of the year only makes it worse."

Households say an agreement had been made with McCarthy and Stone that no work should be carried out before 8am on the site.

No-one was available from Epping Forest District Council to comment on the allegation that developers had broken planning rules.

It comes just weeks after residents won a battle against the proposed installation of an electrictiy substation for the development at the end of their gardens, and is the latest twist in a five-year saga which has seen residents and the developers lock horns over the controversial building work.

No-one from McCarthy and Stone was available for comment.