STOP using our residential streets as an overflow car park.That is the message from residents living near to Ipswich Hospital, on Heath Road, who claim hospital visitors regularly jam their estate with vehicles.

STOP using our residential streets as an overflow car park.

That is the message from residents living near to Ipswich Hospital, on Heath Road, who claim hospital visitors regularly jam their estate with vehicles.

The problem has got so big that the residents have now been jolted into action and are planning to launch a petition and meet with their local councillors to discuss the matter.

One man was so exasperated by the situation he even bought a smaller car so he could get out of the drive.

But Ivor Scott, 74, said it hasn't helped: "I still can't get in and out of the drive."

Worse still he suffers from a heart condition and says ambulances would find difficult to get to his house because the parked vehicles. He lives in Brisbane Road which is among the worst affected along with Tasmania Road and Adelaide Road.

David Garrod, 50, of Tasmania Road, is the neighbourhood watch co-ordinator for area's Ozwatch.

He said: "It has made it worse since they have put yellow lines along Heath Road. I am very happy for the people in that area but obviously it has aggravated our problems as cars have parked down here instead."

He believes that the best solution for the problem would be to limit access to the area to residents only.

Peter Lane, 68, of Brisbane Road, widened his driveway by ten foot but to no avail.

"I go out somewhere and come back to find that I can't get back into my drive. I have widened my driveway but I still can't get out when all the cars are parked down here.

"We are all pensioners and we don't need it. It gets so frustrating." Many say the problem isn't helped by car parking charges at the hospital.

Sheila Bridges, 70, of Adelaide Road, said: "This is getting ridiculous. Sometimes it is like a chicane to get through the estate.

"There are so many retired people living here looking for a quiet life and it is a shame to spoil the area – and it is purely overflow car park for the hospital."

An Ipswich hospital spokeswoman said: "From the Trust point of view we do our very best to provide enough car parking for both the staff and members of the public.

"However because we are treating more people than ever before and much more quickly we are very aware and do appreciate there is pressure on our car parks.

"However we are a land logged site and we have to look at how best we can use the land we have got." They are looking at ways to encourage people to use different forms of transport to get to the hospital.