TWO independent councillors stepped into action to help an elderly and infirm Corringham resident after he was threatened by Thurrock Council over the condition of a garden hedge.

Cllrs Gary Byrne and John Allen moved into action after learning about the plight of the disabled man, who lives on Giffords Cross Road after he appealed for help after receiving a letter from the council – who managed misspell his address!

The letter warned the resident, who walks using a frame, that he needed to cut his hedge back or face having to pay for the council to do the work. The letter, written by Peter Wright of the council's highways infrastructure department, was addressed to Gifford Cross Road, rather than Giffords – even though Mr Wright included a photograph containing the correct street name and a plate on the garden wall!

The two independent group councillors heard the resident had been left distressed by the letter, so set about resolving the problem.

They turned up and cut the hedge back and cleared up afterwards with the help of neighbours.

Cllr Byrne said: "The council seemed a bit heavy-handed about this, there must have been a better way to go about their business than sending letters out of the blue! Could they not have called in and had a word and then, having seen his disability, found a better way to help than issuing threats?

"Anyway, we got the job done. My thanks to Cllr Allen and to neighbours who kept us supplied with tea and biscuits while we carried out the work, and then allowed us to use their brown bins to clean up.

"Please add that this is certainly the only council cut we agree to!"