RESIDENTS are being forced to walk onto a busy road – because of overgrown shrubs.

People walking down Ramsbottom Lane opposite Oxhey Close are having to dodge oncoming traffic when they walk around the bush.

Complaints were made to Bury Council in July that shrubs were covering around 60 per cent of the footpath, where paving slabs were already broken. Last week a pensioner suffered a nasty fall after tripping on the broken pavement.

A resident living in Oxhey Court has criticised the council for its 'double standards'.

John Taylor said: "We received a letter from the council telling us to cut back our hanging baskets.

"We were told that we have 14 days to comply because they're an obstruction to the highway.

"It is double standards that we get this notice threatening legal action, so I sent the letter straight back saying we have trimmed our hanging baskets - trim your shrubs!

"It is an accident waiting to happen. When two people meet, there's not enough room so people are having to go on the road when buses and heavy vehicles pass very close to the footpath.

"It is particularly dangerous for people who are in wheelchairs or pushing prams because they have to come off the path."

Bury Council confirmed that it had logged the complaint and the bush is listed to be cut shortly – and the pavement repaired.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Both of these problems - the pavement and shrubs - have been reported, logged, and action is planned to tackle both of them, within the next two weeks."