LEGAL action is being considered in a bid to resolve a long-running dispute over a wall which is causing misery for drivers and pedestrians in Stourport.

Excavation work on a flats and housing scheme has undermined the remains of the York House garden wall, according to Stourport Civic Society.

It is protected by temporary barriers in a bid to keep people away as it is in danger of collapsing - but town councillor and former Stourport mayor Mick Grinnall told highways bosses the situation had deteriorated into a "two-year debacle". Stourport town councillor Mick Grinnall surveys the York Street barriers which have been exasperating townsfolk.

He said the town council had been "constantly bombarded" with questions from townsfolk who are frustrated at the inconvenience caused by the barriers, which have caused traffic problems by narrowing the width of the road.

And Mr Grinnall warned: "If this isn't resolved it is going to go on for a number of years."

His comments came at a meeting of the Wyre Forest Highways Partnership, the body responsible for district road issues.

However, partnership manager Stuart Reynolds said the dispute with developer Gary Key was in the hands of Worcestershire County Council's legal department.

Mr Key says the wall, which extends 20 feet below ground and five feet above, has been in its present condition for the last century and rejects claims it is on his land.

Sue Sztybel, a partner in the Chain Labels shop which was based opposite the site for five months before moving to Lombard Street, said she had seen people tripping over bollards "on a daily basis", while people regularly had to walk in the road.

Mr Grinnall said the barriers were "extremely unsightly" and often blown or pushed over.

Mr Reynolds said at the meeting: "Every effort is being made to solve this problem. Nobody is sitting down doing nothing."

He said work to repair the wall would cost about £100,000 - but said highways workers did not have the right to go onto the land to do the work and said it would be wrong for taxpayers to have to foot the bill.

"The wall is not dangerous as long as we keep traffic away from it," Mr Reynolds added.