NEGLECTED gardens on a Stretford estate have been left to become "jungles."

Residents on the Trees estate claim the gardens and land should be kept in order as part of the council's maintenance programme.

But they have not been tidied for three years and become dense, overgrown eyesores.

The gardens affected are those that tenants cannot maintain because they are elderly or disabled, while other areas are open land, says Rita Jones, the secretary of the Trees' Tenants and Residents Association.

Two of the worst affected spots are at flats at Elm Drive and Cherry Tree Walk. The overgrown areas border on to well tended gardens that are maintained by the tenants.

Rita says: "We have begged for action and had councillors write in our our behalf but still nothing is done.

"The state of some of the gardens is unbelievable. They are an eyesore with the grass and weeds 10 feet high. They are like jungles.

"It is a health hazard and encourage rats. Last year we found a dead cat in one of the gardens.

"We are bewildered that the council have let it go like this. Quite often maintenance is carried out on one part but they just leave an area next to it.

"It is so unfair that the tenants keep their gardens in good order and have this mess next to them."

Geoff Marsh, the council's head of environmental services, promised to address the problem: "Grounds maintenance and housing officers will be meeting on the estate to look at this problem and to ensure we have all the area covered."

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