RESIDENTS on a Darwen estate have called for action to be taken over motorists ruining grass verges and making the pavement and road a mess.

The road around the Anchor Estate has grass verges either side, but residents have complained that drivers constantly drive over them when parking their cars.

This, they said, causes problems particularly in the wet winter months when the mud is easily churned up under the wheels.

One resident said: “I have been on to the council about this for the past three years.

“People drive on the grass verges and ruin them.

“If someone just went and took a walk around the estate, they could see the damage being done.

“It doesn’t just ruin the verges, either, it sprays mud all over the pavement and the road.

“That could be dangerous if someone slipped on it.

“I have lived on the estate for four decades and it has never been as bad as it is now.”

Earcroft councillor Trevor Maxfield said: “I have had quite a few complaints to me over the years about this.

“When the Anchor Estate was built, there just weren’t as many cars around and I think it is as simple as that.

“We could perhaps look at putting in more parking bays, similar to what Twin Valley Homes did around Birch Hall.”

Coun Jim Smith, Black-burn with Darwen Council’s executive member for environment, said: “The grass verges are part of the original design of the Anchor Estate.

“An inspection has taken place on the estate and an order has been raised, to soil and seed grass verges in various places.

“The inspector who carried out checks could not find any actionable footway defects that needed repairing. Residents with illegal vehicle crossings have been written to.”