'Keep out of HELL': The apocalyptic British estate left to rot where more than 100 derelict homes lie empty just one year after 'tight-knit' community was turfed out due to flood risks

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These shocking photographs show an entire housing estate was left to rot with more than 100 derelict homes lying empty and vandalised like a scene from a post-apocalyptic film.

The two crumbling streets in Merthyr Vale in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, have been looted by metal thieves, are strewn with litter and scrawled in graffiti that reads 'keep out of hell'.

The former residents were turfed out in 2018 - leaving many personal belongings in their wake - when the 112 houses were earmarked for demolition after a series of devastating floods in 2008.

But eerie photos captured by Shaun Ashton, 28, show the area where the once tight-knit community lived is still boarded-up and abandoned despite 1,290 people in desperate need of social housing in the area. 

Homes on the two streets in Merthyr Vale, South Wales, are covered in graffiti from protesting ex-residents and trespassers

Many of the homes in the Welsh village have been ripped apart by metal thieves who have stolen copper pipes and radiators

The photojournalist who visited the homes found photographs and greeting cards left behind by former residents

More than a decade has past since it was announced that the properties in Merthyr Vale would be demolished

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One of the roads in Merthyr Vale is pictured when it was still lived in by residents (left) and after being abandoned (right)

The furious father-of-six has slammed Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association, who now own all the properties on Taff Street and Crescent Street, for failing to utilise them given the housing crisis engulfing parts of Britain.

More than a decade since it was announced the properties would be demolished, but Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council said this would 'hopefully commence' later this year.

Mr Ashton said: 'It's devastating. [The streets were] almost post-apocalyptic - like a scene from [the film] I Am Legend. It's not very often you have that full length of the street empty. You're walking around and it's very eerie.

'Many homeless throughout South Wales were left on the streets during the ice cold winter we had, then the rain that followed. The streets were earmarked for demolition in 2008, yet they still stand today. 

'It's an odd atmosphere. It's upsetting given the housing crisis the country as a whole is facing. More than 100 homes were there and could have been utilised at the least as emergency shelter.'

After speaking with former residents of the two streets, Mr Ashton told how he heard their 'heartbreaking' stories and one resident aged 86 claimed they felt they had been 'ripped from their community'.

Although the houses have been vandalised and stripped of valuable metal, Mr Ashton said they still 'stand strong'. The photojournalist added: 'It was quite upsetting hearing the former residents share their experiences.

'They've explained how they were just ripped from their community and haven't settled within their new homes. I find this heartbreaking, especially when one of the residents that spoke to me was 86. 

The former residents were turfed out in 2018 when the 112 houses were earmarked for demolition after a series of floods

One piece of graffiti reads 'my town is not for sale' amid a row over the properties in the Welsh village of Merthyr Vale

Eerie photos captured by Shaun Ashton, 28, show the area where the once tight-knit community lived is still boarded-up

One child had left behind a wall chart documenting their success in school sports days over the years of 2013 to 2016

'I don't think many of them will move on fully. Their frustration appears to be coming from the fact they were forced to leave their homes, leave behind their possessions in some cases and yet the houses are still there.

'They were told that they were dangerous and yet they stand strong. Just knowing this side of the story makes it gut-wrenching to know that they have all been treated so badly by their own council. They would all move back today if they were given the opportunity.'

According to Merthyr Tydfil Council, 1,290 people are currently on their housing register. But after revealing the bleak reality of Taff Street and Crescent Street now, Mr Ashton discovered evidence of the street's happy past.

During his exploration, Mr Ashton discovered photographs of generations of families and children's books - with one image showing four generations of residents from one home. 

Mr Ashton and his team have now taken steps to reunite the previous tenants with their cherished possessions.He said: 'Residential locations have always got emotion wrapped up in them. 

'Exploring this was more about the emotion behind such a large estate.  We drove past and noticed a local newspaper report about everyone being evicted.  

'We went in to see what was left behind and we found photos, books. We were told by a resident is that they were told they'd have a few weeks to leave.

Residents left behind food, books and boxes after they were turfed out of their homes in Merthyr Vale in 2018

A Pink caledar had been left behind by one resident before the homes in the Welsh village were abandoned

One piece of graffiti seen on a road in the village - which has been described as 'post-apocalyptic' - simply says 'I am sad'

The photojournalist has slammed Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association for failing to utilise them given the UK's housing crisis

'But then as they left with one load of things from their property, there was a security company ready to board up that site and when they got back, they weren't allowed back in.

'Residents claim they've never been allowed back to collect the rest of their stuff, but we've now assisted them in getting their property back. There were photographs scattered all over the floor. 

'We collected them all up and put them together nicely. We spoke to that family and it works out that four or five generations had lived there. They've now got their photos back.' 

Despite a history of floods in Merthyr Vale, residents remain adamant they hadn't had a serious flood since 2008 - ten years before the residents were turfed out of their homes.

Mr Ashton said: 'Everyone talks about the street parties they would have for pretty much everyone's birthdays - there would be bouncy castles in the streets.

'It was a close-knit community where everyone knew everyone and they left their doors open so anyone could come in for a cup of tea.

'They wanted to keep their homes and not have them demolished, or to be given suitable accommodation. We went into pretty much all of the houses, but there were around seven or eight fully sealed.

A letter from Barclays and a greeting card about a newborn baby girl are among the possessions one person left behind

One resident aged 86 claimed they felt they had been 'ripped from their community' after being turfed out of the road

Although the houses have been vandalised and stripped of valuable metal, the photographer said they still 'stand strong'

Taff Street, one of the roads in Merthyr Vale which has been abandoned, is pictured when it was still lived on by residents

Crescent Street in Merthyr Vale is also pictured in this Google Street View image before it was abandoned

'You pick up the huge sense of history and emotion in the properties. Most of them are rehoused on the opposite side of the river. It's not as if there's no other houses and the flood risk doesn't affect that.'

A Merthyr Tydfil Council spokesman said: 'The council has acquired 58 privately owned properties and are in the process of acquiring a further 54 houses and a block of 12 flats from Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association.

Photojournalist Shaun Ashton, 28, told how he heard some 'heartbreaking' stories after speaking with former residents

'The council did not board up any properties until acquisition of each individual property was completed, as there would have been no legal right to do so unless expressly permitted by the owner.

'Acquisition completion dates were agreed with the owners to suit their moves from the properties and weren't completed until the owners were ready to move out. 

'In some instances we completed acquisitions and subsequently granted short term tenancies to assist the owners when there were delays with their new properties.

'We did not prevent owners from having sufficient time to arrange to move from their properties and worked with them to achieve this. We cannot comment on the properties owned by the housing association and the process involved in removal of their tenants.

'Securing the properties has been an on-going issue and we have regularly secured properties in an attempt to prevent unlawful entry. The site has been fenced in its entirety to keep people away.

'There are regular mobile security patrols which occur several times a day and any irregularities reported to the police and appropriate officers of the Council. 

'Utilities were disconnected some time ago due to the constant break-ins and vandalism. Natural Resources Wales publish Development Advice Maps which highlight those areas at risk of flooding. 

'Taff and Crescent Street are one of those areas, categorised as C2 which is an area of land without significant flood defence measures. The demolition program will hopefully commence later this year.'

Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association were also contacted for comment.