'I can't open my door or it'll fill my house': Dozens of families become trapped in their homes as giant TUMBLEWEEDS take over a housing estate as bizarre natural phenomenon called 'hairy panic' sweeps the area
Giants tumbleweeds have overrun a housing estate in Melbourne trapping some residents inside their homes and leaving others in fear of going outside.
The dry grass from a paddock near the estate in Hillside, in the city's north-west, has been swept up by gale-force winds in a natural phenomenon called 'hairy weed invasion'.
The long grass has been whipped into giant balls which have surrounded homes and engulfed backyards forcing residents to shut doors and close windows or risk being invaded.
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Gale-force winds covered the community of Hillside in dry grass from a nearby paddock in a natural phenomenon called 'hairy weed invasion'
Local resident Margaret Persico said it was a 'complete disaster.'
'It has created this grass storm and it has completely taken over our backyard and our frontyard,' she told Nine News.
Her husband seemed to see the funny side of the situation, saying their kids were treating it liked they had woken up to snow.
Neighbour Jane Borg wasn't laughing and said she was becoming increasingly agitated by the situation.
'I can't open my front door or it'll fill my house,' Ms Borg said.
'It is a biohazard. I am reluctant to put our heating or our cooling on because our unit is actually full of this at the back.'
She said repeated attempts to contact staff at the city of Melton council on Saturday went unanswered.
The frazzled homeowner believes the invasion is result of landowners in the nearby paddock failing to maintain the property.
Resident Jane Borg was becoming increasingly agitated by the situation
But rather than speculate on the cause of the bizarre phenomenon, other residents were focused on cleaning up.
Ms Borg pleaded with the council to send some trucks out with workers to help lighten the load for the local community.
The bureau of Meteorology said the event, known as 'hairy panic', is a result of recent dry weather and strong winds.
It is not the first time 'hairy panic' has hit the state of Victoria.
In February 2016 the rural town of Wangaratta in Victoria's north-east encountered the same problem.
But rather than speculate on the cause of the bizarre phenomenon residents were focused on cleaning up
In February 2016 the rural town of Wangaratta in Victoria's north-east encountered the same problem
Residents were overwhelmed and mentally drained from trying to remove the weed from their homes before it simply re-appeared the next day.
In 2018, homeowners in Laceby, Wangaratta, in Victoria, were also invaded by tumbleweeds.
The tumbleweed was so dense it forced the closure of a major road outside one home, leaving the homeowner struggling get through her own front door.
The strange grass is able to withstand tough, hot climates such as drought but will quickly dissipate in the event of frost.