Homeowners in County Gate, New Eltham, claim their street is being used as a rat-run

Residents in County Gate, New Eltham, claim that since the introduction of satnav systems, their residential street has been plagued with traffic including coaches, heavy goods vehicles and even car transporters, using it as a short cut off the A20.

Last year News Shopper reported that a Greenwich councillor was accused of intervening to halt measures to prevent heavy traffic from using the road next to where he lives. Greenwich council denied the allegations.

Patricia Dakshy, who has lived in the road for 26 years, said: "It really is quite a nightmare to live here, it's purely a rat-run.

"I look out the window and see big lorries hurtling past.

"It shakes the foundations of the house. We paid a lot of money to live in this house and it's become an extension of the A20.

"It's outrageous other roads don't share the burden."

Mrs Dakshy, 70, claims the huge vehicles have caused damage to parked cars and trees on the pavement.

She said: "We want proper signage and a small island to restrict massive lorries and trailers coming through."

Brenda Reed, who has lived in the street for 12 years, said: "The road itself has become dangerous.

"It's noisy and it makes it difficult to get in and out of the drive with the two way traffic."

The 67-year-old added: "I want to move because of that road."

A Bexley Council spokeswoman said: “We are continuing to work with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and are hopeful that a joint solution for County Gate can be developed.

“The proposed scheme would need to be acceptable to the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the London Borough of Bexley and the residents.

“If a suitable scheme is approved by both councils, and the bid for funding from Transport for London is successful, formal consultation could follow with implementation in 2013/14.

“There are currently no plans to make any changes to County Gate prior to consultation on a scheme for which TfL funding will be sought.”