'There was rubbish and rats and tyres in the garden'

Neighbours criticise landlord for allowing house next door to become overgrown eyesore

- Jon Bamber

FED-UP couple Ian and Hazel Timmis have criticised Aspire Housing for letting one of its homes become an overgrown eyesore.

Mr and Mrs Timmis have lived in Church Street, Wood Lane, for 30 years. But in recent times the neighbouring Aspire Housing-owned property has become empty and left in a neglected state.

Now the couple are questioning why Aspire is selling the house when there is such a shortage of social housing in North Staffordshire and want to know why it has let it become an eyesore.

Mr Timmis, aged 72, said: “For a long time we have been trying to get Aspire to do something with the property. It has been left to go to wrack and ruin.