This year’s wet weather has planted a growing problem at our doorsteps.

Weeds have sprung up between the pavement slabs and by the sides of many roads – and the record rainfall means the council is struggling to step on the issue.

“I think the pavements need cutting – it’s that bad,” said 63-year-old Shirley Ward, of Worcester Avenue, Cranham. “This is the worst I’ve ever seen it and I’ve been here 10 years.

“Some are probably a foot high – when you come down the street it looks like a bit of a jungle.”

Coral Ware, of Lime Close, said the unwelcome guests on her street were refusing to make like a tree and leave.

“The weeds are like a forest,” said the 64-year-old. “When we have all this heavy rain, it absolutely floods because there’s nowhere for it to go.

“No one seems to be putting down weedkiller.”

And bank cashier Lorraine Moss, 39, said the problem seemed to have sprung up overnight. “It’s a bit like when you look up and see one star, but then there are suddenly loads,” she said. “We’ve just noticed the weeds and now they’re everywhere and they look so dirty.

“It’s untidy and unsightly. If we’re going to get a lot of people coming into the borough with the Olympics, it doesn’t look so good.”

Cllr Barry Tebbutt, cabinet member for environment, said: “We are sorry that there has been a delay in the weeding. This has been caused by the recent bad weather.

“The team will go out to see Lime Close this week.”