Forget leaves on the railway line, it's leaves on the roads that are brushing up a Winchester accountant the wrong way.

Charles Close-Brooks complained to the city council after leaves were left unswept for six weeks along Edgar Road and Christchurch Road in the St Cross area of the city. He said they were knee-deep in places.

Mr Close-Brooks, who lives in Christchurch Road, said: "There are a lot of old people living around here and the rotting leaves have made the pavements slippery. It is also dangerous for motorists who could skid if they brake suddenly.

"It is a complete mess. The council is more concerned with its own private agenda such as extending park and ride at Bar End than carrying out its statutory responsibilities."

Mr Close-Brooks, who works in Romsey, complained to the council and was told the two roads were scheduled to be cleaned on Monday, November 18th.

But more than a week later they still had not been swept.

He said: "The same thing happened last year and now all the road drain gullies are blocked so rain pours all over the roads whenever it rains and pavements remain slippery with leaf litter."

And he says the "inevitable result" is the main drains will become blocked, requiring "enormous lorries at vast cost" to unblock them.

A city council spokeswoman said recent wet and windy weather had caused a very heavy leaf fall after an unusually warm September.

She said the increased workload had caused delays but street sweeping in the St Cross area was due to start this week.

Serco are employed by the council to clean more than 1,000 miles of streets across the district.

In addition to a litter team, mechanised roadsweepers carry out scheduled cleaning of streets every eight weeks.

And a "hit squad" is employed at this time of year to help with leaf clearance.

The city council spokeswoman road said drain gullies are the responsibility of Hampshire County Council.