Now you see it! House covered in ivy finally emerges into view
After years of being hidden under a thick covering of ivy, light can finally stream through the windows of this house in Staffordshire.
The three-bedroomed house in Swallow Close, Rugeley, had been completely obliterated from view by ivy and conifers.
Neighbours who had been fuming for years about the state of the house and garden, which belongs to Kenneth Mould, have rejoiced now that the ivy has been pulled down from the front of the property. But they said today that more work needs to be done to remove vegetation from the garden and ivy still remains on the rear of the house.
Mr Mould has been given 14 days to comply with a council order and clean the place up, or further legal proceedings could be launched.
Nearby resident and mother-of-five Madelene Robinson, aged 62, said: "It was a terrible eyesore.
"I was beginning to think there wasn't anything behind it.
"It shouldn't have been left to get like that in the first place. It looks better but the windows look filthy. They haven't done too badly but more needs to be done."
Removing the ivy has also unblocked neighbours' views and residents said Mr Mould had taken it down himself using a ladder. Some said that the ivy had attracted a lot of attention from passers-by.
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "There's been ivy covering the house for at least 10 years. It looked like an abandoned house. Everyone used to walk or drive by slowly to look at it.
Mr Mould was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £300 costs by magistrates earlier this year after Cannock Chase Council prosecuted him for ignoring orders to clean the place up.
Mr Mould was not available for comment.
