FURIOUS residents living near a huge housing development are fed-up with rumbling trucks leaving a trail of dust and noise.

Constant noise, heavy vehicles and dust have been making life a misery for people living in Cranberry Lane, Darwen.

Work started on the 138-home McDermott Homes scheme, on greenfield land at Kirkhams Farm between Cranberry Lane and Jack Keys Lodge, earlier this year.

Pauline Ainsworth, who lives on Cranberry Lane, said the development has caused dust and mud to come on to windows and doors of houses and cars.

Ms Ainsworth also said she had seen wagons arriving on the site as early as 7am before the agreed Monday to Friday working hours of 8am to 6pm.

She said: “There are large deliveries arriving on site well before the 8am start.

"We have also had problems with noise and wagons and lorries are constantly going up and down the road.

“There are a lot of elderly residents and this development is causing disruption and distress for them.”

Cllr Paul Browne, who represents the Sudell ward on Darwen town council, described the development as hectic.

He said: “It is a hazard as you’ve got big lorries and wagons going up and down the road.

“It really is hectic.”

The development on the 18-acre site will include homes of three to four bedrooms, and associated car parking and landscaping.

The development was approved despite complaints from residents and councillors, with the council receiving 101 letters of objection outlining concerns around drainage, traffic and flooding.

It comes as work takes place on Ellison Fold Way in Darwen, which will provide an alternative route to prevent traffic from the housing estate going onto the A666.

Gavin Prescott, planning manager at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We are aware of the complaint about the hours of working at the site.

“The Planning Enforcement Team is in regular contact with the site manager at Cranberry Lane to ensure the agreed working hours are adhered to.

“The restrictions were stipulated as part of the planning conditions and the site is being continually monitored.

“If there’s a continued breach, the council will consider taking appropriate enforcement action.”

McDermott Homes were unavailable for comment.