RESIDENTS say their street has become “like something out of the Day of the Triffids” as an unwanted bush continues to grow back... and is now almost 5ft tall.

Julie Young, borough and county councillor, says she has been embroiled in a battle with Essex County Council for FOUR years to have it removed.

The unwelcome bush, known as false acacia, was first reported by Mrs Young to highways bosses in 2013.

Despite the bush being cut back a number of times over the years, it continues to re-grow.

Now residents in Stanley Road, Wivenhoe, say they have had enough.

Mrs Young (Lab), said: “I just don’t understand how we have got to where we are.

“The first email I sent to highways was four years ago and I have been asking Essex County Council to deal with it ever since.

“It’s like something out of the Day of the Triffids.

“It gets cut back and then very quickly it is right back where it was and we’re sitting in a bush.

“We were just getting no progress.”

The issue began when a tree had to be felled because its roots were causing the pavement to break up.

Once it was taken away, the pavement was resurfaced but the tree stump remained.

It is from that stump the bush has grown.

Work was also carried out in the site in April but again the bush has grown back.

Highways workers have now said the stump must be poisoned before it is “ground out”.

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “I can advise that the arboricultural consultant will arrange for the stump to be ground out as soon as possible.

“However, he has confirmed that he will need to make a site visit first in order to plot the tree stump on a plan, obtain the grid reference and then obtain detailed maps of any underground utility apparatus within the vicinity, before placing an order with our tree contractor to grind out the stump.

“The species of tree (false acacia) is prone to root sucker growth, so he will also need to poison the root sucker growth so as to kill the root system, as grinding will only remove the stump.”