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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.
Reader views (7)
Anyone else causing a disturbance in an area would get an ASBO – yet Thames Television, Simon Cowell get away with it.
If you have money the laws are different.
- Ian B, Reading, England
Get the water cannons on the street that should shift the poor creatures.
- Mike M, Bedford England
Talkback Thames should be given the bill for the cost of policing. This is their responsibility. Its obviously another cheap way of gaining publicity for the X Factor. Why should taxpayers have to pay the bill!
- Jk, Kent
Schools should give them more homework to do during half term. Water-cannon the lot of them. Bah!
- Keith, King's Cross
All contestants and judges should be made to stay on a boat far out to sea until it's over. Each contestant can swim back to shore when they get booted off.
It's not the best memory to tell your grandchildren, "when I was young I spent my half terms waiting outside a house to spot an X Factor contestant."
Shame!
- Susie, London
simon cowell instead of threatening to leave the country because of the twins if they win,sort this out before it get out of hand
- J Windsor, LONDON ENGLAND
Charge the show`s producers for the policing, etc - you`ll soon see action then!
Just another demonstration of the impact on developing brains of "celebrity" culture, I`m afraid.
Just look in any newsagents to see the collection of trite trash celebmags and vile headlining that these "fans" consume, then their behavioural traits become predictable.
TV and the media MUST be made to take responsibility for stirring up this fatuous feeding frenzy - and the way to do it, as said before, is through their respective pockets.
- Darius, London UK
