A householder today told how a derelict house next to his is stopping him from selling his home.

Martin Hargreaves, 36, has had his house in St Leonard's Road, Girlington, up for sale for two-and-a-half years, but claims that potential buyers are put off by the state of an adjacent property, which has been vacant for 12 years.

"It's been boarded up for 11 years now. People are just dumping rubbish in the garden and vermin are coming out of it," he said.

"There's an old TV, pots and pans, a microwave oven, vacuum cleaner and plaster.

"The Council has put a notice on the boarded up door but it's useless."

Mr Hargreaves is calling for Bradford Council to clean up the mess and has asked Bradford West MP Marsha Singh to help put pressure on the Council.

Geraldine Howley, Bradford Council's housing director, said: "We were unaware that there were any problems with rats or any dumped rubbish that was detrimental to health.

"Previously environmental health only found builder's rubbish. We will investigate these sightings immediately."

As well as scaring off potential buyers, Mr Hargreaves says he is worried the house may be being used by drug dealers.

"My wife heard voices in the house at 5.30 the other morning. We don't know who is going in there.

"We bought this house for £23,500 and now it's worth £17,000. It's like a tip next door. We've got weeds about seven feet high hanging over our garden fence."

A Council spokesman confirmed the authority had tried to track down the property's owner without success.

"We are now seeking to place a compulsory purchase order on the property to make it fit for occupation again and resolve the issue," she said.

"We have made contact with the Hargreaves this week to arrange to discuss the situation with them."