Residents living near a fly-tipping hot spot in Surbiton have rallied together to tackle the problem themselves.

People living in Rose Walk, Berrylands, are forming their own residents’ association because the graffiti and rubbish dumped in their private road became too much to bear.

Police have recommended lockable posts be put up at the entrance to the private road to stop vans driving down to dump building waste.

Plasterer Bruce Barry, 41, who has been organising the project, said it had bonded neighbours who previously never spoke.

He said: “There are certain neighbours in our road who are elderly and it’s a friendly face.

"It’s pulled the community together, we have meetings in the Berrylands pub and it’s a chance to get together.”

The 30-strong group has applied to Kingston Council for funding but said they would put in the labour themselves.

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