SLUDGE from an eco-friendly housing estate in Huddersfield is causing an environmental nightmare for neighbours, say residents.

The pioneering housing complex on Ridge Close, Primrose Hill, is built from renewable timber and recycled building material.

The £7m development, built by the Yorkshire Housing Group, includes solar panels giving residents free electricity and hot water.

But residents of Lawton Street, to the rear of the flats, say sludge, washed down from the complex's sloping flowerbed, has ruined their gardens.

They also say the sludge has turned a footpath into a sea of mud.

Mother-of-two Melanie Sutherland, of Lawton Street, says the mud flooded her garden and has killed her plants.

Miss Sutherland, 33, said: "Thick sludge poured into our gardens and still continues to do so.

"A 30-second journey to the bus stop now takes over five minutes as we try to negotiate a thin `path' hidden under sludge. Wellies have to be worn at all times.

"One of our residents has already fallen and another has fallen off their bike. It is impossible to push a pushchair down this `public' footpath.

"All the plants in one resident's garden were killed and lawns are so waterlogged that the garden can't be used at all. Excessive water has damaged fence-posts," she added.

"The plans for these eco-friendly buildings should never have been passed if the feelings of long-term residents had even been remotely considered.

"They put my garden right because I complained, but I'm still getting sludge in it."

The Yorkshire Housing Group was criticised by residents over noise and disturbance created while building the development.

A statement from Yorkshire Metropolitan Housing, the parent organisation of the Yorkshire Housing Group, said the footpath was owned by Kirklees Council, which was responsible for maintaining it and keeping it clean.

The statement added: "We have been liaising with the council as a matter of urgency, to ensure the problem is dealt with. We have been assured the footpath will be cleaned as soon as possible.

"We take the safety and well-being of the public very seriously. To ensure the problem does not re-occur we will be taking steps to prevent the footpath from becoming muddy.

"We will also be liaising with Kirklees to discuss the issue of mud affecting 17 and 19 Lawton Street. We will then offer to meet residents to discuss the situation."