A property firm has left 400ft of scaffolding covering homes and shopfronts on a Borehamwood high street for more than a year, just yards from the BBC's EastEnders set, sparking accusations from residents and business owners that they are being held hostage. The scaffolding, erected to address loose cladding, was recently granted an extension allowing its owner up to three years before work must even begin, despite complaints of injuries, lost trade and no advance warning when it went up.

The scaffolding was installed by Leathbond, a property firm with net assets exceeding £1billion, along a street once frequented by Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey during filming nearby. The company has reportedly told residents and traders it will not start work until they pay sharply increased service charges, in some cases more than quadrupled. Shop owner Komar Tourachi said his quarterly service charge rose from £1,500 to £6,177, costing him £2,000-£3,000 weekly in spoiled stock after the scaffolding blocked his canopy, while Crystal Salt Cave co-owner Ildiko Szocs-Dee saw her charge jump from £600 to £2,400.