Kempsey are becoming housebound because of the condition of local footpaths, claims parish chairman Joy Clee.

She said many people had complained to her about the state of the footpaths throughout the village.

"We are encouraging older people to stay in their properties and some are becoming housebound because of this," she said, at this week's meeting of Kempsey Parish Council.

"Dropping the kerbs is one answer, but the surfaces are so higgledy piggledy that it tends to unbalance them."

Other members mentioned the poor condition of footpaths in Chapel Road, which had been patched many times in the last few years, and the state of Pixham Ferry Lane, where there were "more patches than original road surface".

It was agreed to bring them to the attention of Malvern Hills Highways Partnership.