A CHARFORD pensioner says his life is being made a misery by a mound of rubble which was dumped by highways contractors in front of the house where he has lived for more than half a century.

Widower Gordon Emus has been trying for a month to get the six foot high mound of building rubble removed from outside his home in Littleton Avenue.

"It started at the beginning of May when they began renovating the pavements," said the 82-year-old.

"I have tried speaking to the lorry drivers and to the county council but it is like speaking to men from Mars. I keep being told that something will be done but nothing ever happens," he added.

"Things are even worse at the weekend and in the evenings when the children are not at school because they climb and ride their bikes all over it. This is making my life a misery and I simply do not understand why it cannot be taken away."

Mr Emus said he understood that the roads and pavements had to be repaired but wanted the work to be done in a more sensitive way. He said that he had moved into the house in 1952.

But Terry Godwin, maintenance manager for the Bromsgrove Highways Partnership, who are doing the work, said every attempt was being made to minimise disruption while at the same time keeping costs down.

"There is an ongoing programme to bring the pavements in Charford up to a good standard. It is not economical to remove rubble in part or small lorry loads so we do stock pile so more of it can be removed at one go," he said.

"If we kept taking away small loads then it would be more expensive and there would be more lorry movements resulting in more traffic and pollution," added Mr Godwin.

"However, we are keen to limit inconvenience to residents and if there are problems we try to resolve them."

Mr Godwin said the work in Charford was due to finish this week.