A DIRTY canal is still causing a stink among East End neighbours as they take their complaints to the council watchdog. Residents who say they have been urging Tower Hamlets council to clean the canal in Wapping for more than eight years have decided to

A DIRTY canal is still causing a stink among East End neighbours as they take their complaints to the council watchdog.

Residents who say they have been urging Tower Hamlets council to clean the canal in Wapping for more than eight years have decided to take their battle to the Local Government Ombudsman.

They say that the canal between Spirit Quay and Waterman Way is smelly and dirty because of the growing algae and rotten leaves building-up in the water.

And with the hot weather making the stench even worse, residents have been forced to keep their windows shut during the summer months.

The Town Hall insists its contractors Bow Landscapes pick litter and weeds out of the canal on a daily basis.

But neighbours are demanding the canal is drained and given an intensive clean.

Charles Faure, 50, who lives in Waterman Way said: "It is totally out of control. As the algae starts to grow even more it is very smelly and if you cannot open your windows during the summer it is not very pleasant.

"We pay a lot of council tax but all the council does is clear the leaves from the top of the water.

"I hope the ombudsman gets the council to do something."

Neighbour Rod Mitchell added: "When the canal was first built it was fantastic. It is valued by the entire community but the council appears to be willing to let it fall into disrepair. The only real solution is to drain the water and clean it out.