AN ELDERLY couple said they were “disgusted” when they were told to clear up leaves outside their city property, despite having health problems and paying a weekly maintenance charge.

Mike and Joan Long said the problem had got so bad Mrs Long, who uses a walking frame, has slipped over, and one of their neighbours had had enough and started clearing it himself.

The couple, who have lived in Glenridding Close, Long Meadow, Worcester, for seven years say it has never been a problem before until this year, when the leaves started building up.

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The couple, and other residents in their row of properties, pay an £8.77 eligible service charge weekly to Sanctuary Housing, which they understood to cover a ‘caretaker’ carrying out maintenance in shared and communal areas, which included hedge and grass cutting, and leaves removal.

Mrs Long, 79, said: “When we phoned them up to tell them about the leaves, they said we should do it ourselves.

“I said 'excuse me, we pay £8 a week'. We both have health problems, it is just impossible for us to do it. There is no way I could do it. It is disgusting. The leaves look awful, were covered all over our ornaments, and the pavement, and I slipped over (when I tried to get past) one of the days. They get very slippy when they are wet after the rain.”

Mr Long said: “Last year they took the leaves away and that was that.

"There was someone with a blower at one point, blowing them down the path.They promised me they would get it done but then I called them and (the operator) said ‘it’s your responsibility, you do it’. He was saying if we don’t do it ourselves, pay someone else to do it. What are we paying £8 for a caretaker for?”

Mrs Long said after the problem had dragged on for weeks, earlier this week one of their elderly neighbours got so fed up he started clearing it himself, bagging up the leaves.

“I told him he is 79, he shouldn’t be doing it, he is like us (with health issues)," Mrs Long added.

A Sanctuary Housing spokesman said: "Our maintenance staff collect and remove leaves during their regular, scheduled visits to the estate and will be carrying out this work again next week.

"We appreciate and understand the recent concerns raised by residents and will therefore ensure that staff are reminded of the need to pay special attention to this issue at this time of year.”