JUNGLE warfare has erupted in a quiet corner of Leigh.

Elderly Pennington people should have been enjoying what is left of summer in pleasant garden surroundings.

But their Brookdale oasis has blossomed into a forest of weeds.

And local Councillor Mark Hale claims the mess stems from uncompleted landscaping work beside the sheltered housing complex.

But Leigh building firm boss Sean McCaul, MD of Redwaters - who sub-contracted the landscaping as part of a deal involving allotments site development - insists the work was carried out by the book.

Cllr Hale said: "It was a cheap job!

"Back in December Sean McCaul met me at Brookdale and agreed it was a botch-up. He said he would get it sorted and asked if we could leave it till Spring for the planting season.

"But Summer is nearly over and nothing has been done. I will make sure our planning department keeps a close eye on future developments."

Mr McCaul said: "We've stuck to our end of the contract.

"We've actually done more work than the planning conditions stated. We are not cowboys.

"I told Cllr Hale I would investigate and, if it was our fault, I would put it right. I did investigate and found the work had been carried out in accordance with a scheme we proposed and had passed by planners.

"The Council has not maintained the garden and, if you don't maintain anything for 18 months, this is what happens."

Cllr Hale said a tidy-up would be carried out by the Council under the Brighter Borough initiative.

Cllr Hale (right) and some of the Brookdale residents tiptoe through the weeds.

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