FED up residents in Teignmouth have been left looking at an ‘eyesore’ boat parked up on a residential road for 18 months.

The boat, which is on a trailer, is now full of smelly green water and has not moved from the spot on Buckeridge Road, opposite Paradise Road.

Neighbours have complained to Devon County Council’s highways department.

But the county council says it has limited powers to do anything as efforts to contact the owner have failed.

When residents first contacted the council, an officer visited the boat and placed a notice on it.

The owner, who remains unknown, was said to have added to the note that the axle was broken and would be fixed.

A spokesman for the authority said: ‘We appreciate the frustration, unfortunately we have been unable to contact the owner using the number left on the trailer.

‘As trailers don’t need to be registered we have no other means of identifying or contacting them.

‘Given our limited powers and resources, that there are no parking restrictions at this location and there is no obstruction or immediate highways safety concern our options are limited.

‘We will however approach our district council colleagues, who have powers for abandoned vehicles and fly tipping, in an attempt to find a solution.’

One resident said: ‘Six months on, the boat on the broken trailer remains.

‘It has been parked up, for a total of 18 months.

‘I was told, it was too costly to remove but it was not causing any harm, where it is parked.’

The boat and trailer are not attached to a vehicle so there is no number plate to trace the owner.