A NEWPORT couple say cracks have appeared in their walls and their house has been shaking since work began on a new supermarket being built metres away from their home.

Rhys Hatherall, and Liz Shakesheff, of The Turnstiles, live close to the new Sainsburys store currently being built in Crindau.

The couple noticed several small cracks on the front and rear walls of their home about six months ago.

Carpenter, Mr Hatherall, 26, says there has been regular heavy drilling at the site which lies just 30 metres away from the back of the house.

He said he is worried the cracks could widen and cause damp to the house they have owned for four years.

Coving in the couple’s living room also began to crack and 2.5 metres of it fell away in June.

Mr Hatherall said the vibrations from drilling at the site caused the house to regularly shake while the building was being constructed.

He said that they have also been unable to enjoy full use of their garden over the summer because of the noise from the site which they claim has occasionally gone on until midnight causing them difficulties sleeping.

"It's always been really quite around here before," he said.

Mr Hatherall said they were considering moving to a larger house next year but fear they will now have difficulty selling their home with the damage, noise and close proximity to the Sainsburys store.

The couple originally had no objections to plans for the store.

"We weren't that bothered by it but I didn't think it would be that close. We thought it would be closer to the by-pass," he said.

The couple wrote to the supermarket chain in June outlining their concerns but said they have had no response.

Mr Hatherall said their home is insured and that they are looking into contacting a solicitor and getting double glazing for their windows.

A spokeswoman for Sainsburys said the supermarket chain is aware of the situation and is working with its contractors, Kier, to investigate.

She said a meeting will be held with ward councillors this week.

She added: "With the opening of our new store only weeks away, we are committed to leaving a positive, lasting legacy in Crindau and to this end we are keen to resolve this matter in a timely fashion."