A COMMUNITY has been left “incensed” after a neighbour was walled into her own garden by a newly erected fence.

Residents and councillors have jumped to the defence of Nicki Rushby, of Hill Meadow, Overton, who for years has accessed her garden via a gate leading through an adjoining property’s back garden.

But now she has been left ‘blocked’ in after new neighbours disposed of the gate, replacing it with a 6ft fence.

And with a train track blocking the other end of her property, she has no way of getting in and out of her garden, other than to go through her house.

It means she can no longer store her wheelie bins in her back garden, that her children can’t to access their bikes from the rear shed and that she can’t take garden waste to the tip to be disposed of.

She also has a lawn mower at a friend’s house that she hasn’t been able to fit through the house.

Speaking of the disruption caused, Nicki added: “My window cleaner hasn’t been around for months. I’ve got all this rubbish there that I need to take to the dump, but I can’t get it out.”

Nicki’s is one of five terraced homes in the area which are owned by Sovereign but flanked by privately-owned houses.

Neighbours say that none of the other homes have had access to their garden blocked off, and after approaching Sovereign for answers Nicki says the company have said “not a lot” to her, and other local councillors, about the issues.

“It’s just frustrating,” added the 47-year-old, who works as a caterer at Testbourne School. “I’ve been here nine years and never had a problem.”

Borough councillors Colin Phillimore and Ian Tilbury have been working with Nicki in a bid to help her situation, as has Reverend Ken Bell, who lives in the same street.

The mother of three has also been in contact with local MP Kit Malthouse about the issue.

Cllr Phillimore said: “It’s morally wrong is what it is, to block someone in like that.”

Other neighbours have also been joining Nicki’s cause.

“It’s morally wrong and it’s out of order,” said one resident. Another added: “It’s worked since 1950. It’s never been an issue, ever.”

The owners of the neighbouring property have been contacted for a comment.

Luke Bingham, divisional director for Sovereign, said: “We appreciate how frustrating this situation must be for Ms Rushby and we’ve been working with her to try and find a solution.

“Unfortunately, there is no legal right of way across the neighbouring property.

“We’ll continue to discuss possibilities for access and have offered other alternative solutions, such as creating a storage space for bikes and bins in the front of her property.”