PEOPLE living next to a newly created bus route claim a change in the parking rules is causing the seven-ton vehicles to get stuck in their street.

Residents in New Wanstead have called on the council to reverse its decision to ban parking on the pavement on one side of the road which they say has resulted in them having to leave their cars in the street - blocking the path of the No 66 bus.

They claim the popular service - which was finally routed along New Wanstead last year after a 20-year-campaign - gets marooned near a traffic island at the junction with Gordon Road, at least once a day because it has too little room to pass through.

Resident, Barry Crace, 65, urged the council to reverse the decision - which was introduced before the bus service was re-routed, after complaints from residents that parked cars were blocking the pavement.

He said: "We need to be able to park with two wheels on the pavement on our side of the road because the buses often can't get through.

"Everyone is pleased that the bus service comes down here now, they just need to make it easier for them to get through.

"It would solve the problem if they let us park on the pavement again and put in some double yellow lines next to the island.

"It's only a matter of time before there's a serious accident there otherwise."

These views were echoed by his wife, Veronica.

She said: "People are still allowed to park on the pavement on the other side, and the buses can get through fine there.

"They should do the same on our side.

"Someone made a delivery at our house and left their van parked legally in the street.

"We heard beeping and looked out and saw the bus was stuck behind it. They get stuck there at least once a day."

Tim Sanderson, of New Wanstead, said: "It's been a nightmare down here since they stopped us parking (on the pavement).

"(The pavement is) really wide. There's more than enough room for people to walk by if a car is parked on there."

Wanstead ward councillor Alex Wilson said officers would look into Mr Crace's suggestion.

He said: "The bus route has been a great success and has been very much welcomed by people living in New Wanstead.

"This problem appears to be an unintended consequence."