A DOWNHAM woman has spoken of her horror at discovering a toxic caterpillar nest in her back garden, and says the council has repeatedly failed to deal with it.

Lolita Hyde-Gomes, of Rangefield Road, told Bromley Council about the infestation on May 10, and they have done nothing about it, despite concluding the nest is "dangerous" and promising it would be dealt with.

The 68-year-old, who lives with her 75-year-old husband, Gerald, said: "The council are just not bothered about it.

"They said it was dangerous and then they take their time.

"I have grandchildren aged five and six years old come over to the house.

"It makes me scared for my grandchildren when they play in the garden."

Mrs Hyde-Gomes added: "I initially complained on May 10 and they said they would send someone around in five days.

"No one came, so I was calling and calling them and nothing was being done.

"Eventually, because of my persistence, on the 29 May a man from the council came round.

"He had a look and said there are nests and they are dangerous to humans and animals and that someone would be around to sort it out. No one came.

"Yesterday I went to put some clothes out in the garden and I saw the nests were still there.

"They sort of look like spiders webs, like cotton or silk.

"The caterpillars are little black things.

"It makes me angry with the people concerned who have said they are going to sort it out and they haven't."

Residents have been warned of the presence of oak processionary moth (OPC) caterpillars in Bromley after the species was spotted in the grounds of the Royal Bethlem Hospital in Beckenham a year ago.

However the council has denied the caterpillars in Mrs Hyde Gomes' garden are oak processionary moths.

A spokesperson said: "Having visited the site to confirm exactly what the situation was, we are pleased to confirm this is not OPM but is 'Browntail Moth'.

"Our contractors are scheduled to visit very shortly to remove them."