Blocked off, street under siege from X Factor fans

Roadblocks have been set up outside the X-Factor house in north London amid growing concern about fans' behaviour.

The decision by Barnet council was taken to protect scores of teenagers gathered outside the £6million property in Golders Green from traffic.

Screaming fans have been crowding the street, upsetting neighbours and even triggering complaints from staff at the Chinese Embassy next door.

Police said two cars had a minor crash on Wednesday. One girl caught up in the chaos ran into the road and was almost run over when the contestants returned home.

Councillor Andrew Harper, cabinet member for environment and transport at the council, said: "I appreciate the nuisance that this crowd is causing some local residents but our priority has to be to ensure that these young people are safe. We have rain forecast for the weekend and I hope that, and the end of half term, will bring an end to the problem."

Noushin Attari, 36, a dentist who lives just doors away from the X Factor house, said she had written to the producers to complain about the fans. She said: "They fill the pavement and spill on to the roads, shouting and screaming from 11am to about midnight every day. Cars could not get through.

"When you buy in an area like this you do not expect this level of noise."

"I have been at home ill with swine flu and they are screaming and shouting - it does not help. The producers are not doing anything."

The roadblocks, implemented last night as sleepy contestants returned from a long day's filming at Shepperton Studios, will stay until 3 November when the situation will be reviewed.

London Assembly member Brian Coleman said the show's producers, Talkback Thames, should "end the purgatory for residents" caused by the housing of the show's contestants in his north London constituency.

Mr Coleman, member for Barnet and Camden, said: "This whole thing has got out of hand X Factor's producers need to recognise their responsibility to my constituents. I shall be writing to Simon Cowell to say if they can't be good neighbours then they should move to a more secluded location."

Neighbours were further upset when a group of anti-X Factor protesters began ranting through megaphones yesterday.

A spokesman for Talkback Thames said they were monitoring the situation but would not move the contestants.