THE Ministry of Defence has apologised to families for not cutting the grass near their homes for 18 months.

Members of the armed forces who live in Howard Road, Strensall, say they used to have the grassy area at the front and back of their houses cut by the Defence Housing Executive every three weeks, but there has been no sign of a mower now for more than a year.

The grass is four feet high and residents fear that adders, rats, mice and ticks are lurking among the undergrowth. They also claim that the overgrown area at the back of their homes is proving a nightmare for hayfever sufferers.

A petition containing 60 names has been put together.

Residents claim a field at the front of their houses was only cut recently when an enterprising farmer stepped in and offered to cut it for free in return for collecting the hay.

Christine Cooper said: "It used to get cut every three weeks or so by the Defence Housing Executive, but it hasn't been done for 18 months now. It seems like they're cutting back in the lower ranks area. Strensall Park, where the senior officers live, is beautifully cut."

Corporal Stuart Ross, who has lived there for three years, said: "We've had to go out and cut a patch ourselves for a football pitch for the kids. I run a minor league football team from the village and we used to train up here, but we can't at the moment because it's so overgrown."

A spokeswoman for the MOD said: "I can't pin down why this year's become a problem.

"The MOD is fully aware of the situation, so is the Defence Housing Executive and the estate commandant of the area and all the various groups who have responsibility for it. It is a problem which has appeared this year.

"The grass won't be cut tomorrow, but it will in the next couple of weeks. We apologise for the delay."

PICTURE: WILDERNESS WOES: Residents of Howard Road, Strensall, near York, who want the MoD to cut the grass at the front and back of their properties

Picture: David Harrison