Developers have been accused of "bully boy tactics" after telling home- owners in a Mid Bedfordshire village they will have to pay to use their own gardens.

Residents of Marston Road in Lidlington received letters from O&H Properties last week informing them that their gardens had encroached onto land owned by the company.

O&H Properties surveyed the land, which was formerly the site of Marston Valley Brickworks, as part of its plans to build a 15,000 new homes eco-town.

Villagers have been told that they can lease the land back for an annual fee.

But they fear the land will simply be claimed by developers if and when building starts.

Helen Weeks, who has lived in Marston Road for nine years, said: "My reaction when I opened the letter was how dare they?

"We have been here for nine years without moving our garden, and they are asking us to pay £100 per year.

"My next-door neighbour has lived in his house for 42 years with his garden in the same place. But he has had a letter too, saying it is encroaching on their land.

"There will be no long-term security. If O&H decide they want the land back, then what can we do?"

The land behind Marston Road is owned by O&H Properties, and is currently little-used apart from for weekend car boot sales.
O&H Properties' plans to build an eco-town will include developing this land.

But the scheme has generated widespread opposition from residents, who have branded it an "eco-con" and organised numerous protests.

Mrs Weeks, who lives with her husband and two young children, added: "We have got this hanging over us. If we decide to move it will be much more difficult, because the reason people live here is because of the views.

"We moved to Lidlington because we enjoy living in a village, and we enjoy the views from our house. Now, not only may we lose that, we will not even keep our garden.

"It appears that this is a company that favours a bully boy approach, and I fear this is a taste of things to come."

A spokesman for O&H Properties said the firm only noticed the encroachment as part of a routine check, but could not confirm when the last survey took place.

He said: "During a recent routine survey of its land in Marston Vale, O&H Properties has identified small amounts of encroachment onto its land by a number of adjoining properties in Lidlington and Stewartby.

Those involved have been contacted with details of where boundaries appear to have changed. O&H Properties' land agents are currently in contact with the owners of the houses concerned to resolve the issue."