FURIOUS residents have launched a campaign against estate agents who are advertising properties in Prettygate by claiming they are in affluent Lexden.

Conservative councillors and campaigners yesterday unveiled the Proud of Prettygate campaign.

The campaigners say they are not criticising estate agents, but are making the point local residents are proud to live in Prettygate – and believe the name is a selling point.

One of the councillors, Beverly Davies, said: “Prettygate is a really great place to live.

“We have shops, infant, primary and secondary schools, pre-schools and play areas.

“There is a library, post office, churches, pubs, a country park, community halls, doctors’ surgeries, dentists, vets and hairdressers, as well as many small businesses.

“We are proud to live in Prettygate.” Lexden, once a village, is seen by many as the poshest part of Colchester and has some of the most expensive houses in the town.

Although most of Straight Road is in Prettygate, a number of estate agents claim homes for sale there are in Lexden.

Estate agent Fenn Wright is marketing a three-bedroom, semi-detached house in Straight Road on website Rightmove as in Lexden, although it is closer to Shrub End than to Lexden.

Abbotts, based in Colchester’s High Street, is marketing a two-bed bungalow in Parr Drive, off Dugard Avenue, a main Prettygate road. But online, it is described as being in a “popular Lexden location”.

A spokesman for Abbotts said while Lexden was the most popular destination for would-be homebuyers or tenants, the estate agent did not intend to mislead.

He said: “At the end of the day, we should be as accurate as possible. If it’s in Prettygate, we should say it’s in Prettygate.

“The most commonly requested area is Lexden, and prices in Lexden command a higher price.

“But there’s certainly nothing wrong with Prettygate or Shrub End. Prettygate is actually a popular area – it’s a good family area.

“There are a lot of facilities and there’s good access to Colchester and the A12.”