People living in Wayland Fields, a Barratt Homes estate in Watton, believe the unexpected payments will leave them hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

Campaigners claim they were led to believe they would only be liable for the costs of grass-cutting around their properties.

However, they now understand the annual bill will be much higher, to cover the upkeep of flood defence infrastructure.

They are fighting for the arrangement to be overturned.

The Wayland Fields estate in Watton (Image: Eleanor Storey) Brian Dingwall, who lives in Wayland Fields, said the service charge has created an "open-ended financial burden" with uncapped costs expected to rise to several hundred pounds per household.

While a similar levy is charged at other developments in Watton, Mr Dingwall believes the fee at Wayland Fields will be far higher due to the scale of the flood defences. These serve the wider community, but are only paid for by homeowners on the estate.

The defences include large attenuation ponds for collecting excess rainwater, and drainage ditches along Thetford Road.

Homeowners on the estate will also be........

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