Residents in Brickhill are complaining that their voices are not being heard by a housing association and the Mayor is comparing parts of the area to Beirut.

People who live in the area at the top of Brickhill Drive have complained that garages maintained by Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association are being used for rough sleeping, drug taking and lighting fires.

Martin Flores-Molleda, who lives in Mallard Hill, said: "One of our neighbour's cars has been broken into and there are lots of empty garages.

"On one of the footpaths leading off Mallard Hill there have been lots of problems with people throwing things and breaking fences.

"We have complained but nothing has been done."

Councillor Charles Royden contacted BPHA in May and managers have visited the site with him to assess the damage.

But despite going to the very top with complaints to BPHA, Mr Royden, together with Mayor Dave Hodgson, claim that nothing has been done to stop the anti-social behaviour at the garages.

Mr Hodgson said: "It is difficult to believe that BPHA could be so negligent that a part of Brickhill now resembles Beirut.

"Burned out garages are being used for rough sleeping and there is a stench of human excrement and signs of drug paraphernalia."

David Parsons, head of housing management at BPHA, said: "We are aware of problems with the garages on Brickhill Drive.

"We acknowledge that some of the garages have fallen into a very poor state of repair and a lot of work will be needed to bring them back up to a standard that would make them useable again.

"We are currently reviewing several solutions and assessing the costs involved, including repairing and re-letting the garages with improved lighting, or having them demolished.

"Some of the garages are privately owned, so we need to consider these also.

"We are writing to the people who have previously expressed a wish to rent the garages and are currently awaiting responses.

"We will keep Mr Royden informed."