A DEVELOPER has apologised for leaving a "dangerous" exposed cable with a 'live' warning on it outside homes on a new housing estate for 18 months.

Persimmon Homes South West has now ordered a light column following the County Gazette's intervention and has promised it will be installed next week.

Ashley Cox says he has complained several times about the cable outside his home in, where he lives with his partner Lucy Palmer and their 11-month-old son Sebastian.

"The cable is sticking out of the ground with a tape on it saying, 'Warning, live electricity' - although Persimmon told me it isn't actually live," said Mr Cox.

"It's also a trip hazard - if kids were playing football outside it could be quite dangerous.

"I've been complaining for 18 months, since the site was finished, and nothing's happened.

"It was so frustrating I even complained to the chief executive of Persimmon, but still nothing happened. It's just not good enough.

"They kept passing the buck, telling me to contact the electricity company, but we bought the house from Persimmon and they are responsible - we shouldn't have to chase anyone."

Mr Cox said he is annoyed he was "promised the earth" before he bought the £250,000 three-bedroom detached home, but has struggled to get any response from Persimmon since.

"It's good news that Persimmon say they're going to put the street light in, but you shouldn't have to complain for 18 months," he added.

But Mr Cox is concerned because he claims that while Persimmon representatives have told him there is planning permission for the street light, a neighbour was told no such consent exists.

Persimmon Homes South West's construction director David Jones apologised for the issue of the street light cable taking "longer than it should have".

Mr Jones added: "The light column has now been ordered and will be fitted this week.

“We have been in regular communication with Mr Cox and we offered a meeting with senior management to review any issues or concerns that he has.

“We are fully committed to rectifying any problems in a correct and prompt manner.”