Furious homeowners on a Whitehaven estate have been left feeling ignored after the county council has still not tended to the grass verges near their homes.

Residents fell the on-going issue has made the area look unkempt and after paying a premium for their new homes are now disappointed with the route into the Wilson Howe estate Whitehaven.

Resident Malcolm Yates said: “At first Story Homes were taking care of the verges but it was not their land, they just kept it looking tidy.

“But now they have moved on to the next project, they have left the responsibility in the hands of the council.

“The verges and hedgerows have not been cut since last year and even then it wasn’t the council that did it.

“It feels like we have been missed off the list when they come to cut the grass and the hedges.

“It looks a mess – people drive into the town and see signs about how well we have done in Britain in Bloom and then they’re greeted with this.

“People are now throwing their rubbish from cars and there are rats and mice living and feeding on the rubbish.

“Something needs to be done.

“It is an easy fix.”

The county council explained that they will be progressing with the verge cutting programme over the coming weeks but the will be concentrating firstly on the main routes used by haulage, which include the roads on the strategic road network.

These routes, which in England account for 4,300 miles, are made up of motorways and trunk roads, the most significant ‘A’ roads.

These will be tackled first before any other area problem spots.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “The council’s routine verge maintenance programme is progressing with cuts to the verge and visibility splays planned over the coming weeks.

“The initial cuts will be focused on the strategic road network moving progressively through the area.”

The decision to leave the area near the Wilson Howe estate has made Mr Yates feel like they have been forgotten about.

He added: “We’re now starting to get more vermin.

“With the pubs, cafes and other places closed, the rats and mice are moving to find food.”