Homeowners who were asked to give up part of their land to create a footpath in Sittingbourne have had their properties attacked by vandals.

The victims, living on Highsted Road, say they are being made scapegoats for delays in carrying out the Kent County Council project.

It previously said it was in negotiations with residents about dedicating a thin strip of land in front of their homes to build the walkway.

But residents in Haysel, which is adjacent to the site, say KCC has never fully engaged with them – despite their willingness to help.

Pedestrians are currently forced to walk along the busy road past the junction of Farm Crescent if they are heading towards Rodmersham.

Ian Ferrar, who owns most of the land, said: “I’ve had lumps of mud thrown over my garden wall and dog poo thrown onto my flat roof – we’ve become scapegoats.

“They [KCC] are asking for a two metre wide strip of land that belongs to us – expecting us to give it to them.

“Would other people give up their land for free?”

His neighbour Keith Endicott also says his property had been attacked by vandals.

The retired 73-year-old said: “We’ve had stones and mud thrown at our windows, my wife found some dog poo that had been thrown over our fence.

“I wish now I had taken photographs of the mud on the windows, but my wife just wanted it cleaned off.

“I didn’t contact the police because that is pointless - they are not going to do anything.”

In a letter dated September 10, the authority’s legal department requested landowners support the pathway scheme by completing a “deed of dedication” for the grassy space they own.

Five households agreed they were “willing to enter into discussions” about possible compensation for the land and requested KCC consider building an acoustic fence.

The council replied that because residents felt unable to provide “unconditional assistance” it was now exploring other options.

More than 100 people signed a petition calling for a footpath in March last year after teenager Laurence Marshall experienced a “few close calls” while walking to and from Borden Grammar School.

“Kent Police take all reported incidents seriously and we investigates all crimes.

“Officers would encourage victims of crime to report incidents and they will follow any lines of enquiry to identify a suspect.”