RUNCORN residents say construction work on roads leading to the new Mersey Gateway bridge is causing their homes to vibrate.

They fear the shuddering could damage their properties.

Raymond Yensen, aged 66, of The Calvers on The Brow estate said: “Our back kitchen window is vibrating and our boiler rattles.

“There are two big machines. Every time they put a new metal sheet in, our house vibrates. It goes on all day.

“We’re worried about the long term damage it could be causing.”

He has lived in his house with his wife, Marie, aged 63, for 43 years.

His neighbours say their windows are also vibrating.

Raymond says they haven’t received any information about the noise and disturbance.

He said: “I am annoyed. They should have notified us about this.

“They should be monitoring it.

“What will happen if we get cracks in the building in 10-15 years?”

He said their windows, cars and washing get covered in black soot.

Jim Rice, senior operations manager for Merseylink, said: “We are currently building a retaining wall close to the Central Expressway near the Halton Lea roundabout.

“This is expected to be completed in two weeks, at which point our work will switch to the eastern side of the Central Expressway where we will be constructing another retaining wall on the Halton Link southbound off slip road and a small retaining structure at Brook Place footbridge.

“We are confident that the piling works will have no impact on the foundations of any nearby buildings as this issue has been considered during the development of the planning and construction phases of the project.”

He said they will notify residents on The Calvers before work starts on the eastern side of the Central Expressway.

Roadworks involve vibrating steel sheets into the ground to a depth of up to 11 metres.

Construction of the walls in Brook Place start early in November and at Halton Link slip road in December.

The work in this area is expected to last for around a year.