Household debris could be cleaned by council

Piles of of discarded appliances and furniture - pictured here in April - are outside the house in Hunstanton

A council has been given permission to clear piles of household furniture from a property after complaints from neighbours it was attracting rats.

The debris is stacked up in the front garden of the house in Hunstanton.

An enforcement notice ordering the homeowner to clear it up expired last month.

On Monday, a planning committee at the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk said its officers could remove it themselves.

While the homeowner has made a start clearing the exterior, she told the BBC she strongly denied it was a health risk.

The council issued a Section 215 enforcement notice, giving the homeowner a week to remove the rubbish herself. It expired on 27 May.

Following the decision this week, the council could charge the occupant for any cleaning its officers have to do.

The council says it is working with the owner to "manage her property" (photo also from April)

Marie Bateson, who is volunteers director at the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers, said the waste could be a fire hazard.

"Open or food waste could entice rodents," she explained.

"There could be trip hazards if there's lots of things on the floor or things that would fall on them... if that person is unwell it's very, very, difficult for the emergency services to get in because there aren't clear pathways."

Ms Bateson said there could be an impact on neighbours who felt their homes were devalued.

A spokesperson for the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk said: "The council is working with the owner to manage her property.

"Officers recognise that she has made an effort to clear the exterior and they will continue to support her to do this.

"However, they also have the council's authority to take direct action, which means that if it becomes necessary, a clear-up can be undertaken, for which she will be liable."