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A council has sparked uproar by erecting a giant metal-spiked fence on an estate at the centre of a bitter housing row.

Southwark Council enclosed four blocks on the Aylesbury Estate in south London with large hoardings of wood and metal on Friday.

Residents are furious that they are now only allowed to enter or leave their homes at a single exit, which is manned by private security officers.

The fencing went up as protesters continue to occupy flats on the sprawling estate, as they oppose Southwark Council’s plans for a £1.5billion regeneration.

Aylesbury Estate residents well pissed off about being sealed in by Council fences. Have to ask security to come & go pic.twitter.com/Ybwrk8v9Cv — Southwark Notes (@SouthwarkNotes) March 16, 2015

The enclosed blocks have mostly been vacated ahead of their demolition, but they still house about 30 tenants and leaseholders, as well as the squatters.

Aysen Dennis, 56, a housing campaigner who has lived on the estate for 22 years, said: "It makes it really difficult for people to get to their homes.

"We’ve already had tenants come to us to complain and we’re in the process of making a legal challenge.

"They are trying to stop the protesters basically, but other tenants are paying for it."

The council says the fence was erected for the safety of the remaining residents, who are surrounded by hundreds of empty flats.

But one told the Standard that they and their neighbours are all unhappy about being penned in with only one exit.

Cllr Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "The fence was installed as a direct response to the remaining few residents who expressed concerns about security on the site and anti-social behaviour from people who aren’t residents.

"Putting up the fence follows advice from the police, fire brigade and our officers who had similar experiences with other largely empty housing blocks."

Last month, six people were arrested after police and firefighters were called in during an eviction of protesters, who were refusing to leave two occupied blocks.

The campaigners are still on the estate after they simply moved to another vacant block. Southwark has been forced to return to the courts to secure further possession orders.

The estate became famous for hosting Tony Blair's first speech as prime minster in 1997 and for featuring in a controversial Channel 4 ident, which residents complained left a negative impression.