A ‘home alone’ dog has been causing distress to neighbours living in Priory, Wellington.

The dog, a rottweiller, is occupying a three-bedroom semi-detached council house on its own and keeps near-by residents awake at night with its barking.

“We’ve had 10 years of trouble at this property,” said Carole Dabbs, who lives next door at 33 Priory.

“The dog has been left at the house on its own for the last six months, and someone comes to feed it at some point during the day.

“The poor thing has no company and obviously has the full range of an empty house.

“My husband Jeff died in March, 2018, from cancer and was kept awake by the dog at night and with loud music and raves. All the neighbours have had enough especially as no-one seems to want to know.

“We have been in touch with councillors - at least seven have been to my home - our local MP Rebecca Pow and the RSPCA and still nothing has been done about it. It is making me ill, especially when the dog wakes me up at all hours with its barking. I’m getting no sleep and it’s stressing me out.

“I want to know how the council can allow anyone to have a property and not live in it. The garden, which must be 50 yards long, is an absolute disgrace. And there’s bound to be rats in there. Two men from the council spent a whole day cleaning up the garden. Who’s paying for that - we are.”

Kim Parsons, who lives opposite the house, said: “I have lived here for eight years and I have had nothing but trouble with the house. The man who rents the house says he is going to do something about the problems but he doesn’t.

“I looked out one night and there was a young couple having sex on the bonnet of a car. At times in the past there are as many as six cars parked outside there.