HOMEOWNERS who claim their £10,000 garden is being ruined on a daily basis by nearby building work say they are living in “hell on earth”.

Jacqui and Kevin Tapsell, both 57, have lived in Pleasant Plains Mews, Colchester, for just under four years and together run the Evolution Foundation College.

At the time of moving in, the couple were made aware of a planned housing development which would eventually back on to their property.

But they decided they were willing to endure the noise and disruption of a housing development if it meant they would land their “dream home.”

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In April this year, workers from Countryside Partnerships finally moved in and started work on the 171-home Chesterwell Estate.

Since then Jacqui says she and her husband have had to battle a constant storm of dust and dirt which frequently cakes her windows, garden furniture and cars.

“Over the weekend, after getting back from holiday, we had to spend five hours cleaning all the windows, our furniture and decking,” said Jacqui.

“We had come back to hell on earth but what I could cry most about is the fact it is all already brown again – it is awful and it is disgusting.

“We cannot walk barefoot or sit in our own garden anymore, or hang any washing out, and as soon as we open the doors or windows the dirt just comes in.

“The other day I was playing a game outside on my phone and every 15 minutes I was having to wipe my screen because it would have a new layer of dust on it."

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Jacqui and Kevin now have to regularly pay out for a window cleaner, constantly wash their vehicles, and constantly use their tumble dryer at a cost of £40-per-week.

She said: “We have spent roughly £10,000 on our garden since we got here and we also bought a hot tub, which was my dream, but that is now ruined.

“If I chucked dirt into your garden it would be criminal damage. They have given us a £100 goodwill gesture, but that has just made me angry – it’s laughable.”

A spokesman for Countryside said: “At Countryside we value the importance of health and safety - a key factor in all our build programmes across our sites.

"With dust a natural occurrence on a construction site, particularly during the summer months, we have worked with the Council to ensure the levels of dust are continuously monitored. We have taken every measure, such as regularly spraying the site with water from a bowser, to ensure the levels of dust are kept to a minimum to reduce the impact on the surrounding community.

"Additional measures in place include the early construction of the permanent road and hard standing in the build programme and plans for a road sweeper and wheel wash to alleviate dust levels.”