Glan y Mor in the Knap area was built about 20 years ago

Glan y Mor, in the Knap area of Barry, has existed for more than 20 years, but flats built on the waterfront a few years ago were also given the name.

The confusion has resulted in ambulances turning up at the wrong house in an emergency and mail being delivered to incorrect addresses.

Barry Town Council said they would "investigate the issue".

College administrator Anna Hayes, who lives in the Knap's Glan y Mor said: "We're receiving mail from - and our mail is going to - the other Glan y Mor in Barry.

"We're also getting emergency services knocking at our door at all times of day and night because of the confusion.

I can't believe that when they built these flats they didn't check there wasn't another Glan y Mor already existing in Barry Al Wilson, Barry waterfront Glan y Mor

"We're just not getting very confidential mail - bank statements and such.

"There was an incident last year when my son unfortunately had to go into hospital and we were waiting for that appointment notice."

Ms Hayes said elderly neighbours were also missing hospital appointments because of the mix-up.

Al Wilson, a 34-year-old carpenter living in the Barry dock Glan Y Mor, said he regularly had to travel across town to redeliver mail.

"Apparently it's whenever they change postman and they don't understand it - you have to read the full address," he said.

"I don't understand how the bother arises - I can't believe that when they built these flats they didn't check there wasn't another Glan y Mor already existing in Barry."

The Barry waterfront Glan y Mor was only built a few years ago

Barry Councillor Steffan Wiliam said he had pressed for two years for new names to be agreed.

He said: "There's absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be renaming some of these areas. There are life or death situations coming up here - ambulances turning up at the wrong places.

"This is an unacceptable situation. This problem has been raised by myself and by [councillor] Barry Shaw two-and-a-half years ago and nothing has been done about it."

Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith said residents had complained of "utter chaos" and that there could be a tragedy if the situation was not rectified soon.

"The decision to give two residential developments the same name in a town the size of Barry beggars belief," he added.