The company has now taken its multi-million-pound programme of pipe replacements further down the street.

But Rugby Road resident Shirley Rush says they have compounded earlier problems by leaving a dreadful mess behind, turning a beautiful corner into a wasteland.

She said: "The part by the road is cracked and crumbling and the asphalt is poor, sinking and spreading.

"The area was lovingly mown every week and the flower border planted and cared for at my expense. Now it is rough, uneven and seeds stand no chance of surviving. I know it is council land but I and my husband before me had tended it for 20 years, and made it a thing of beauty."

For Mrs Rush, this is the final straw. As reported last month, the prospective buyers of her home pulled out because they could not be certain they would have access to the property on the big day. The caution related to a two-metre deep trench at the end of the drive, surrounded by tall metal fencing and plastic barriers, which had been there for more than eight weeks.

Mrs Rush is adamant countless complaints proved fruitless until, in a flurry of activity two days before the move date, and after she had contacted the media, National Grid contractor Gas Alliance got the job done. The company claimed it only found out about the move ten days before.

Several families from the area, including a couple due to emigrate to Australia, were affected when the nine-house chain broke.

Mrs Rush is now a "disastrous" £3,000 out of pocket. She is demanding compensation and wants workmen to return to fix the mess.

She added: "I would like to believe a national company has a duty to look after us - especially as this is the eleventh week of disruption. It is supposed to be all complete, but have a look at it. It will only take a bit of rain and it will be a mudbath again."

A National Grid spokeswoman said: "The reinstatement we have done is temporary because BT still has not completed its work there.

"We put a temporary repair in to facilitate Mrs Rush's house move and will look at a more permanent one if BT is likely to be several weeks. It is likely we would then turf it over."

Claims details had been passed to the relevant department, she added.