A RUNDOWN home left dilapidated for a decade should be bought by Colchester Council and used to house a homeless family, a councillor says.

Dave Harris, ward member for Berechurch, said neighbours had had enough of living next to the property, with its overgrown garden and boarded-up windows.

Neighbours claim the house, in Ridgewell Way, Colchester, is dragging down the whole community.

Mr Harris argued it is the perfect candidate for compulsory purchase the council.

He said: “It is ridiculous. It has been going on for ten years. To me, it is absolutely diabolical. It is an asset deteriorating.”

Mr Harris said the owner had been contacted, but nothing had changed.

He added volunteers, including neighbours, had even offered to clear the garden.

The council recently revealed 1,930 properties in the borough were standing empty with more than 100 of them unoccupied for more than four years.

A council spokesman confirmed it was looking at the property. The Gazette was unable to contact the owner.