LEAFY Chandler's Ford can be a pain when it comes to poorly-maintained stretches of pavements, civic chiefs have heard.

For uneven sections are being hidden by falling leaves and putting pedestrians at risk it is claimed.

Speaking at a meeting of Eastleigh Council's Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee, Fryern Residents Association representative Malcolm Mathews asked: "It can be quite hazardous. It's not good when you can't see where you are going."

Mr Mathews said there had been a rash of incidents recently where public services had dug up footways and then patched them with no concerted effort of making a good job.

He also said it appeared that, while some areas were cleared of leaves, others were left untouched.

Committee chairman Councillor Godfrey Olson said: "We are endeavouring to get all the footpaths up to a reasonable standard but there is a tremendous backlog."

The chairman added that leaf collections were carried out in two phases and the first had already started.

"We are blessed with so many trees in Chandler's Ford and they do shed their leaves at this time of year. Last year something like 100 tonnes of leaves were taken to be composted - so you can see the magnitude of the job."

Cllr Olson asked for any particular areas of concern to be reported so that the committee could address any problems.

The council says leaf collections take place in two phases to reflect the fact that leaves from different species of trees fall at different times.