ANGRY residents are fed-up with dust from a building site being blown towards their homes and fear it is a health risk.

It comes as developers are set to bring in a water cannon in the hope dampening the ground will reduce the amount of muck being produced at the Rayne Gardens site.

Clouds of red dust from the 127 home development in Rayne Road, Braintree, have been coating cars, homes and gardens for several weeks.

Some residents say the situation has been so bad it is making their asthma worse and causing eye irritation.

Pamela Meredith, 84, who lives in Rayne Road with her bedridden husband Ronald, said she could not open her windows as a result.

Mrs Meredith said: “It’s horrendous, when I go into the bedroom at the front of the house I can taste the dust in the air.

“I do have asthma but I’ve not had a cold for about three years and now I have this chest problem which won’t go away.

“I’ve got enough to worry about without having to try and deal with this as well.”

Three water bowsers are believed to be on site but the recent dry weather means they alone have not been enough to prevent the dust.

Mark Deal, who lives nearby in Sun Lido Square Gardens, said the situation had him worried about the health of his family.

Mr Deal, 48, said: “I have three children, all of them have hay fever, and it’s been much worse since this began.

“We’ve also all now got some eye drops because our eyes have been drying out since the weekend.

“I’m not about to keep the windows and doors shut in this weather, I shouldn’t have to do that.

“I’m not saying the houses shouldn’t be built but it’s a case of having respect for people who live here already, they should have been prepared for this.”

After a roadside meeting between the developers and some residents last week, a water cannon was set to be brought in yesterday to try and solve the issue.

Keith May, a Redrow projects manager on site, said steps are being taken to solve the issue.

Mr May said: “It’s unfortunate that people are being effected by the dust but we are acting upon their concerns.

“We’re dealing with extreme circumstances here, there’s always going to be some dust when you’re building but the dry weather has made the situation worse.

“We have a contractor and will reimburse people for the cost of cleaning cars and windows.”

A spokesman for Braintree District Council said: “We are aware of the dust issues at this site and we are working closely with the developers to resolve the matter.”