FURIOUS residents claim they are being forced to share their homes and the estate with rats because of flytippers and a lack of council action.

They claim waste is continually dumped in garages around Kingsmere, Thundersley and rats are now running around the estate and outnumber the residents.

One resident said: “I’ve been complaining about the flytipping since January.

“It is happening at the garages most nights, I don’t know whether it is businesses or the neighbours who are dumping waste there, and it has now caused massive rat problem in the flats.

“One of the garages backs on to the communal gardens and that is the garage everyone dumps there rubbish in.

“I’m very frustrated.

“It’s extremely hard to get in contact with anyone at the council.”

Another resident claimed there is a bad smell in the area and the rubbish which is piling up high looks such a mess.

The father-of-two said: “I think it is disgusting that the council is not bothering to clear the rubbish.

“I have tried calling the council to report it but nothing seems to be done at all.

“I am angry as we live here and the council should be forced to take responsibility and clear the area for us residents.

“Seeing rats on the estate and so close to homes is awful and not something you expect to see or experience in this country.

“I don’t know who is dumping the waste here.”

Pictures sent to the Echo show a large dead rat and large piles of dumped waste including furniture and bin bags dumped.

A spokesman for Castle Point Council said the flytipping had been cleared, officers have visited the site on various occasions, communicated with concerned residents and inspected the site and set traps for rats.

However residents claim the problems remain and the council needs to investigate.