NETTLES five feet tall, brambles and weeds are blocking footpaths in Baildon – just a week after the town hosted a successful walking weekend for visiting ramblers.

And residents are calling for action from Bradford Council to tackle some impenetrable paths such as a footpath leading from Langley Lane.

Householder Jillian Smith, 75, said the weeds behind her home had made the path unusable for many people.

"I'm five feet tall and the nettles are higher than me!

"I used to go round and clear the land behind my back fence of nettles and brambles and ivy, but I'm 75 now and can't do it any more.

"Children can't walk up the path and you could only make it full dressed and in thick long trousers," Mrs Smith said.

"The Council really should do something about it."

Ward Councillor Debbie Davies said she had received many such complaints from residents.

"Of course this happens every year – Summer comes and the weeds and nettles grow, that's just nature.

"But it's worse this year as nothing seems to have been cut and the Langley Lane path is a typical example," said Cllr Davies (Baildon, Con).

"I've been to other paths which are overgrown and where wet foliage can also make it dangerously slippery.

"This is basic stuff, like emptying the bins, and people rightly expect the Council to take care of it.

"Another issue is it makes everywhere look so untidy, which hardly encourages people to keep their own properties in order – or to take exercise by walking," Cllr Davies said.

Chris Flecknoe, chairman of Baildon's Walkers Are Welcome group agreed there was an increased problem.

"We agree with Cllr Davies and one of our purposes is to keep all the footpaths open.

"It seems the weather has made everything especially lush, particularly nettles.

"In fact we're developing a scheme to get volunteers trained in the use of strimmers so we can get out and improve things," Mrs Flecknoe said.

"In fact we have at least one volunteer confirmed and Bradford Council's Countryside Service will offer free training on the safe and correct way to use strimmers.

"We are aware a lot of paths are overgrown and we are dividing the Baildon area so we can walk and check them all.

"Walkers Are Welcome is grasping the nettle!" Mrs Flecknoe said.

The relevant Bradford Council staff were unavailable for comment.