A RIVER has been left to go to ruin for a number of years, according to ang ry residents .

Concer ns have been raised that a stretch of the River Blackwater , running through Coggeshall, has been ig- nored for so long that it is now a negative sight in the community wh en it should be a cared for asset.

Among the critics of the care given is Bob Sheppard, of Monksdown Road, Coggeshall.

He walks along the stretch of river every day and believes it is a disgrace that it has been left this way.

The resident clams the river is overgrown with weeds after years of neglect.

He said: “Me and my wife walk along there and it is in a utter ly dreadful state , “It is a really nice area along there , par ticular in the summer , but the state of the river ruins it.

"The weeds on the bank have grown over as well as it being covered in slime .

“You look in the river and you will always see a floating football and cans and rubbish.

“Despite discussions with the Environment Agenc y, no work has tak en place on the stretch of river.

Complaints are being ignored and so were requests for a comment wh en the Times ask ed the Environment Agency to explain why the area was being left unlo ved.

Mr She ppard added: “It really is disappointing to see .

“When I was a boy we used to go up and down in canoes but you wouldn’t dream of that now.

“It has been ignored for years .”

Other parts of the river have also caused concern for residents .