TENBURY pensioners are jeopardising their safety to avoid getting drenched by cars driving through a giant puddle, according to a town councillor.

A drainage problem by the bridge on Kyrewood Road, close to Greenhill Close, has resulted in residents having to walk in the road to prevent getting saturated by motorists.

"Elderly people are getting soaked. It's like a lake across the road when it rains," said Councillor Margaret Austin. "Instead of walking on the side of the road where the puddle is, people have been walking on the other side where there is no pavement."

The councillor added that the situation is particularly worringly as older residents are in danger from passing traffic as they walk on the other side of the road.

"There are people who use walking sticks and zimmer frames who have to wait until they can get across the road," Coun Austin said.

"It is a safety concern and repairs should be a priority."

Repairs to other drainage systems in the town were carried out earlier in the year but the problem on Kyrewood Road was not resolved.

"When I saw repairs being done outside Barclays Bank in Teme Street, I asked why this bit here had not been done," Coun Austin said. "At the moment I cannot get an answer as to whether it will be done this year or next."

Reg Farmer, who represents Tenbury on Worcestershire County Council and has reported several different drainage problems, has also joined the call for action.

"There have been problems here for a long time," he said. "We have had some extraordinarily heavy downpours lately which has not helped. But I think it is probably time it was looked at seriously and the situation was resolved."

Several drainage issues have recently been alleviated, including a problem outside Barclay's Bank after a soft drinks can had been removed from a gully.

Officials from Worcestershire High-ways Partnership unit in Malvern have also attempted to resolve the problem in Kyrewood Road.

"We have been aware of the problem and have done some re-surfacing to try and get the water down the drain. This has been partially successful," said manager Mike Davis.

"Now this problem has been drawn to our attention we will have a further look."

Mr Davis added that it was possible that more resurfacing work would be carried out or an additional drain put in. But the problem was not straightforward.

"If an area is reasonably flat it can be particularly difficult to drain water away," he said. "Obviously the best time to look at it will be the next time it rains and this is something we will endeavour to do."

Mr Davis added that the "good citizens of Tenbury Wells can be rest assured that we will being doing our best to rectify the problems as soon as possible".