SALTASH residents who have waited more than five years for their estate to be finished are counting down the days until their ordeal is over after Cornwall Council announced a programme to complete the work.

Residents in the Pillmere estate have had to endure endless years of disruption after developer Cofton left roads, footpaths and cycleways incomplete.

When the company went into administration last spring, locals feared the problems would never be resolved.

Now Cornwall Council has announced a six-week project to finish off the estate. Work will begin at the end of March.

Colin Riches, Cornwall councillor for Saltash St Stephens, said: "I'm delighted that this phase of the estate will soon be complete.

Local Cornwall councillors and Saltash town councillors of all political persuasions joined forces to sort out the mess the developers have left the residents of Pillmere. Rest assured that I will keep on the case until the estate is completely finished, which I hope will be in the near future."

The land, managed by Cofton, was divided and sold to major house developers including Persimmon Homes and Wimpey.

More than 600 homes were built and the last development finished in about 2005.

The builders then moved out, leaving behind rubble, building materials, pipes and waste on the sides of the road.

Several roads, footpaths and residential walkways were also left unsurfaced.

Resident John Taylor, who moved in about six years ago, described the estate as a "derelict bomb site".

He welcomed the news but remained cautious: "We are moving forward and if Cornwall Council does finish the roads, that'll be something but we have a big fight ahead."

Mr Taylor said he was concerned about the lack of maintenance in the estate and some areas had become a dumping ground.

Graeme Hicks, Cornwall Council's cabinet member for highways, transport and planning, said: "We take our responsibilities to our residents seriously and we expect developers to do the same.

"The original planning application for the Pillmere estate included a bond to cover the cost of the estate roads should Cofton fail to complete the work. We have been through the lengthy legal process of calling that bond in, which means that the company that acted as surety must now complete the outstanding works. Their contractors expect to finish the project in early May, and we hope to formally adopt the roads soon after."