Natural History Museum chiefs have angered residents' groups by applying to hold London Fashion Week in its grounds.

Three huge tents are planned for the event, which will be held in February and March in the museum's lawn, which lies off Exhibition Road, South Kensington. The tents will cover 2,500 square metres of ground and around 15,000 visitors are expected.

But four respected residents' associations have written to Kensington and Chelsea Council officers objecting to the show.

"We all wish the Museum well but it is high time the management considered its neighbours," stated a letter from the Earl's Court Society spokeswoman. "Fashion Week has become a visual blot on the setting of the museum and on the area as a whole. The present situation cannot be allowed to continue," added chairwoman of the Brompton Society, Sophie Blain, in her letter to council officers. "We feel the museum is not engaging with local groups, preferring instead to pursue its own agenda unilaterally."

Other objectors included the Kensington Society and the Knightsbridge Association. Another letter outlined worries about the inconvenience and danger caused to pedestrians crossing Exhibition Road due to large lorries parked nearby.

A museum spokesman said: "We consider the views of residents to be very important, and try to take them into consideration wherever possible.

"We meet with the council, residents' associations, English Heritage and individual residents and deal with any complaint as it arises."