Residents Leslie and Kathleen Hill who have had access to their property cut off are seen with Oakengates town councillor Steve Wood.

He said: “This is a problem caused by the council which disposed of the property for its own gain without giving the slightest thought to the consequences for all concerned, in particular the adjoining residents.

“Mrs Bushnall is entitled to fence it all off.”

Mrs Bushnall declined to comment to the Shropshire Star.

A spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council today said: “The council buys and sells land with the best of intentions but obviously we can’t be responsible for how a piece of land is used after it is sold.

“However, we have taken into account the problems that residents have experienced since and that has prompted our efforts to resolve the situation.”

Neighbours Leslie and Kathleen Hill claim they can no longer use their driveway since the fence was put up.

Mr Hill, 58, said: “I have lived here for 11 years and I’ve always had access.

“I have also got a disabled family and if they can’t get in to see me I’m going to have to move.”

Mrs Hill, 56, added “This is really making me ill. Since they put the fence up I could not even talk to my husband because I kept bursting into tears.”

The Wrekin Housing Trust, which owns most of the houses close to the land, said unless the fence is taken down or tenants given keys to the locked gates, it will take legal action.

By Jason Lavan