People living along a walkway have voiced concerns about the maintenance of the public footpath.

For years, those living on Rolling Pin Lane in Dereham have helped maintain the hedgerow along the pathway but they are now getting too old to undertake the work.

They contacted Dereham Town Council, which is responsible for cutting the hedge and overhanging trees, to keep up the maintenance.

The hedge was cut and the trees were pruned this summer – but those who live on the lane said it was done to an 'unsatisfactory' manner and a lot of debris was left at the site. They also expressed their shock that a tractor and chain flail was used.

Some 200 children use the walkway to get to and from school and there is concern that the homes could not be accessed by emergency vehicles if the hedge were to get in an unruly state again.

Town council officials said the cutting of the hedge was left later than planned this year and that they will endeavour to get the work carried out earlier next year.

Colin Wade, 78, who has lived on the lane for 52 years, said: 'We couldn't get anyone to deliver anything because of the narrowness of the lane and there was no room to get an ambulance or fire engine down because the hedge was overgrown.'

The hedge and adjacent Vicarage Meadow is owned by the church but is on a long-term lease to Dereham Town Council. Town clerk Tony Needham said a tractor and chain flail had been used as it was the most cost-effective method.

He added: 'This year it should have been cut by mid-July but for reasons outside our control it was cut later. We will endeavour to ensure that it is cut at the correct time next year.'

Are you campaigning for improvements where you live? Write to doug.faulkner@archant.co.uk