Four Exmouth councillors rolled up their sleeves to clear weeds from a lane in Exmouth after an elderly resident reported the problem. 

The woman, who is disabled, said the overgrown lane behind her property in Waverley Road was causing difficulties with access. 

She had contacted the councillor for Halsdon Ward, Paul Millar, who found that work was scheduled to clear the weeds but would not be taking place for some time. 

On Saturday, October 1 and Sunday 2, Cllr Millar recruited three of his district councillor colleagues, Cllrs Brenda Taylor, Joe Whibley and Fred Caygill, to help him remove the weeds. 

They were joined by a local resident and her young daughter, whose husband made them all a cup of tea as they were finishing off. 

The councillors involved have now suggested that groups of residents could spend a few hours doing similar work in their neighbourhoods if the local authority has not been able to carry it out.