TORRENTIAL rain and three weekends of stormy weather left some roads and footpaths in Oxfordshire flooded and battered.

One of them is the footpath along Church Street in Sutton Courtenay that links the north and south parts of the picturesque village.

One retired resident Fred Cubbage has now argued that, while this year the state of the area has been particularly bad because of persistent storms, Oxfordshire County Council has allowed the vital pathway to 'deteriorate' over time.

Frustrated by the lack of action, Mr Cubbage said he took matters into his own hands and raised the question with the parish council.

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Armed with a pair of resistant Wellington boots the Sutton Courtenay resident, who has lived in the village for 13 years, trekked to the area to gather some photographic evidence to share with the authorities.

The pictures taken earlier this week on Monday show large chunks of the footpath encrusted with mud, resembling 'rural farm land'.

Mr Cubbage said: "There is only one footpath along Church Street, Sutton Courtenay and yet it is the only link between the north and south of the village.

"Last Monday the entire length was waterlogged but it has been extremely muddy near to the Green for at least the last two years."

While the mud-caked patch is aesthetically displeasing and 'embarrassing', the local explained that its could also be 'lethal' at times.

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He said that he witnessed two elderly residents slipping and falling on the footpath and added that he has also been a victim in the past to the dangerous footpath.

Mr Cubbage said: "It is the only means for pedestrians living south of the High Street to get to the three pubs and church.

"But last January the muddy uneven surface was frozen and lethal to walk on.

"It has been in a sub-standard condition for several years but with this winter's weather the surfaces have become extremely dangerous."

According to Mr Cubbage the last time that the county council attended to the issue was five years ago when gravel was put on parts of the footpath.

Since than, despite it causing tremendous difficulties for walkers, he said the area has been abandoned to deteriorate.

Mr Cubbage added: " The gravel did not last.

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"It would be far more cost effective to have a permanent surface.

"Safety must come before conservation on this occasion as it is the only footpath."

The concerned resident also added that over time many pedestrians have gone back to driving because of the danger that the area is posing.

With no other alternative, some even find it safer to walk along the highway, which, as Mr Cubbage pointed out, also floods during heavy rainfall.

The pensioner added that no village should put up with such 'inferior pedestrian link'.

A spokesperson from Oxfordshire county Council was not able to provide a specific comment but said: "“We will look at the issues that have been raised in these locations in Sutton Courtenay and consider what action could be taken to improve matters.”