� Traders and residents have slammed Newham Council for inaction on a Brentwood estate, as rival politicians try to take credit for campaigns against the neglect.

Three separate petitions have been launched on the Eastham estate calling on Newham Council, which owns the properties there, to take action over the number of empty premises.

Brentwood South Cllr Mike Le-Surf called for specific action in Eastham Crescent.

He said: “The main problem is that the shops are being rented by a local retailer who wants to extend his premises. Unfortunately Newham is happy to take the rent but not bothered about the closed shops.”

The Conservative candidate for the ward in this year’s local elections, David Bishop, said on Monday that he is calling on Newham to take action over empty shops in both the Eastham and Three Arches estates.

Shop owner Sinnarasa Sathiyamoorthy, of A&S Newsagent, Eastham Parade, said he has re-applied for planning permission to take over the shops in Eastham Crescent and extend the Post Office in his store.

He also launched a petition (last Friday) for his customers to show support for the plan.

Martin Rudd, landlord of The Chough pub, opposite the parade of shops in Eastham Crescent said: “If the shops were open it would be a lot better. We get a lot of kids hanging about there.

“It’s not lit there and shop windows and displays would light it up better.”

Resident Colin Ringe, of Cherry Avenue, said: “I have lived on this estate all my life and the shop fronts are worse now than they’ve ever been.”

A Newham Council spokesman said that the council shares the desire to see the shops occupied as soon as possible.

Newham Homes, the body in charge of Newham Council’s housing, said it was keen to work with anyone who wants to improve the area.