Angry villagers say they are fed up with dust from a building site covering their gardens.

Residents living close to the 50- home Monks Wood development in Earls Colne say they are having to hose down their gardens and properties almost every day due to dirt spreading from the site.

It comes as the UK is experience a prolonged spell of warm weather.

Developer Crest Nicholson has promised it is taking the problem “very seriously” and is putting measures in place to control the spread of the dust.

Lyn Peacock, whose home is one of many affected, said: “Whilst I appreciate we are experiencing unusually dry weather, I would like to use my garden during the summer without having to hose it down all the time.

“Being a pensioner, this is becoming an unacceptably costly exercise.

“My dogs are picking up so much filth, as is my home and neighbouring vehicles.”

Ms Peacock also said she was concerned about the road outside being left unwashed.

A spokesman for Crest Nicholson said: “We endeavour to keep all of our sites as clean and tidy as possible, however in this extremely dry weather, the works on Monks Road have created more dust than usual.

“We take concerns from the local community very seriously and are putting measures in place to control the dust leaving the site.”

A Braintree Council spokesman confirmed the problem was being investigated.

They added: “This is a matter that is being investigated by both Environmental Health and Planning Enforcement teams.

“The site has been visited and we’re working with the site operators to reduce this problem.”