NEIGHBOURS have said they are at their wits end with a house on their street which has been left abandoned for two decades.

Residents of Redlands Road, Penarth say they are fed up with dealing with the problems that come along with the eyesore property, including rats and squatters.

The house is located near Victoria Garage and the junction with Stanwell Road and still has an owner according to the Vale council

Carolyn Mead, who lives next door to the house, says it is unfair that neighbours should have to put up with the mess at the property.

The grandmother has lived in the street for 20 years and said something needs to be done.

She says she tries to keep her house clean and tidy and says it is not right that this could be allowed to happen just next door, bringing down the overall quality of the street.

Recently, part of the boundary wall fell into her garden which she says could have been dangerous if her granddaughter had been out at the time.

She said: "As neighbours we have had to put up with this house becoming more run down and dangerous for the last 20 years.

"I moved in here in 1997, and the owner of the house next door has barely been seen for years and not at all for the last 15 years.

"Many neighbours have complained.

"I have lived here and been a single parent for many years struggling to pay bills and maintaining my house, and its so unfair that this elusive neighbour isn’t shamed further."

Elizabeth Morton lives on the other side of the house.

She said: "Neighbours are exasperated by the situation as its been going on so long.

"I haven't seen anyone living at the property for 19 years.

"There have been ongoing calls to the council regarding the overgrown garden and the state of disrepair the house and land is falling into.

"There have been squatters, and a window at the rear is still broken.

"I have seen a neighbour's cat playing with a rat and seagulls swoop down for rats."

She added that the rear garden has been overgrown for many years, and neighbours either side have had to cut back all the overgrowth hanging over their walls for years

Neighbours have tried to contact the owner but to no avail.

A spokesman for the Vale council said: “The council has received several complaints in relation to the overall condition and appearance of this long-term empty property over a number of years.

“We have successfully prosecuted the owner on more than one occasion and an Enforcement Notice requiring the garden area be cut back and cleared away was recently issued.

“This was to allow a programme of baiting to be carried out in relation to rodent activity.

“The notice has now expired and we are currently arranging for the work to be carried out, the cost of which will be charged to the owner.”