Bexley Council shocked homeowners last week by saying ‘we won’t fix your pavement until someone falls over.’

Angry residents in Whitfield Road, Bexleyheath, have called on the council to replace the uneven and broken paving outside their homes for four months - but to no avail.

Steven Adams, 43, who has lived in the road for 16 years, told News Shopper: "The pavement looks like the Rolling Hills of Montana.

"It’s only a matter of time before somebody trips over. Even though it’s a really quiet road, the kids are up and down playing all the time.

“I was told the criteria are you have to wait until someone falls over."

Parent Gill Evans, aged 42, added: “I think it’s appalling really - we pay our rates and they’re not cheap.

“It’s not just for my family but anyone who walks past, I’m amazed no one has done anything about it.”

A Bexley Council spokeswoman said: “An inappropriate remark was made by a customer service advisor who apologised to Mr Adams immediately.

“Some other areas of the footway are cracked but as the surface is stable they do not constitute a hazard and do not need repairing at present.

“The footway will continue to be monitored during the council's regular 'walked safety' inspections and, if the condition deteriorates, the area will be repaired.”

Since Mr Adams called News Shopper on January 10, one of the worst-damaged paving slabs has been replaced.