ONE of the UK's leading homebuilders is under fire from residents on an estate who say they have moved into new properties only to find them riddled with problems.

Homebuilder Barratt last night pledged to get to the bottom of complaints from residents in Wensleydale Park, in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

The move came after residents said their dream homes have turned out to be nightmares.

They say that none of the problems have required major structural work. However, the list of faults include doors which do not hang properly, unfinished paintwork, uneven plasterwork, chipped kitchen floors and a porch lintel which had not been securely anchored to a wall.

Sonia Sullivan and her husband, Mark, moved from Brompton, near Northallerton, with daughters, Emma and Claire.

Mrs Sullivan says the stress caused by the family's battle with Barratt has brought on a chest infection, while she has often been reduced to tears over the condition of their Dale Grove property.

She said: "They have sent men back to deal with the problems, but all they have done in some cases is make it worse.

"One of the repair men was great; he tried really hard. But, in the end, he was having to do so much and was taking so much flak from other people with faults in their houses that he left."

Ellen Brown and husband, Colin, moved into their home in Dale Grove in October and found similar problems, as well as water leaking into a downstairs cupboard and a drinks bottle stuck in an upstairs toilet pipe.

They say they also encountered difficulties persuading Barratt to rectify the faults - so much so they put up a banner in a window in their home, which overlooks the sales office, demanding action.

A spokeswoman for Barratt said the company is aware of problems with some of the properties in Wensleydale Park and will be trying to put them right.

She said: "We regret that our buyers have experienced some problems with their homes and we are working directly with them to resolve any outstanding issues assoon as possible.

"The vast majority of our buyers are happy with their new homes and we do endeavour to deal with any issues arising promptly and efficiently."

WENSLEYDALE PARK COMPLAINTS

PROBLEMS reported in homes include:

* Porch lintel not anchored to the wall and left unsealed

* Interior doors not hanging properly

* Door frames not flush with the wall

* Chipped floors, uneven walls and plasterwork and cracked coving

* Radiators hung unevenly

* Interior doors, skirting boards and visible pipes painted with undercoat and not finished with gloss

* Loose fitted carpets, particularly on stairs

* Loose banisters

* A shower tray which has sunk, pictured below

* Smells from the toilet, with a hole around the main pipe

* Draughts from window