LEAVES left to rot on Broadstone pavements in Poole so infuriated the local councillor that he cleared them up himself.

Councillor Mike Brooke has warned that the slippery leaves could be a sign of things to come as council cuts bite.

He said he received numerous complaints from residents who had made repeated requests to the council – but without any action.

And with plans in the pipeline to slash £12,000 from the weed killing and safety sweeping budget in the next financial year, he is predicting worse to come.

“If the leaves are so bad now and weeds have been so bad for the last two years, with future cuts in standards, what is going to be like?” he asked.

Cllr Brooke and his daughter took to the pavements to clear some of the slimy leaves.

He added: “Hopefully it will be safer for those at risk of falling and breaking a leg or hip.”

The councillor also pointed out that rotting matter encouraged weeds and blocked drains, adding: “A proper, targeted cleaning programme at the right time will save a lot of extra work and would be far cheaper in the long run.”

Councillor Don Collier, cabinet member for the environment, put the delay down to recent severe weather when sweepers were not sent out to avoid grit being swept away.

That was compounded when the majority of the cleansing team were redeployed to waste collection at the beginning of January to clear the backlog of household rubbish.

He said a “small number of cleansing requests” had been delayed as a result, but assured residents that “services have now returned to normal, with areas affected by leaf fall being prioritised”.

He said there had been “very few complaints”, thanked residents for their understanding, and encouraged people to contact 01202 261700 with any problems.