A PENSIONER is urging the council to take action over a row of overgrown bushes, claiming the excessive foliage is causing problems for him and his injured wife.

Seventy-seven-year-old Charles Pain says he is being forced to step out onto Viking Way when walking with slipped disk sufferer Anne, 71, due to the unwieldy branches overhanging the pavement.

The grandad-of-one says the problem occurs “yearly”.

However the retired project manager says that this year has been particularly bad due to his wife’s injury, which means she struggles to walk without assistance.

He said: “My wife has a problem walking and needs to hold onto my arm so it means I have to step into the road so she can avoid the branches. That causes a problem.”

The Hampton Road resident claims he sends similar complaints to the council each year.

The bushes are located on private property, but sprawl out onto the pavement, which is the responsibility of Hampshire County Council’s highways department.

Although responsibility for cutting back the foliage does fall to property owners, Mr Pain is urging the council to take action.

He said: “I know some of the residents struggle to do it themselves but Hampshire Highways need to do something about it.

“The council can send letters asking residents to cut it back or they will cut it and charge the residents.

“I’d do it myself but I don’t know where to put all the rubbish.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

“One of our engineers has now been out and spoken to the homeowner who will arrange for the vegetation overhanging the footpath to be cut back.

“Residents can always report issues such as these, and any problems on the highways, direct to us at www.hants.gov.uk/roadproblems or by calling us on: 0300 555 1388.”