A PENSIONER paid out more than £3,000 to have her driveway block paved to prevent it from flooding, with the council ‘refusing’ to resurface the road after more than five years.

Whenever it rains, 81-year-old Margaret Sheridan is left almost stranded in her home in Crown Street, Barbourne, because a large puddle and ‘20 foot’ stream form outside her gate.

Last month, the former Avon lady, who suffers from arthritis and pulmonary fibrosis, and her husband John Sheridan, decided to take action to at least stop their drive from flooding.

However, the collected water on the road still hampers her getting out for regular hospital visits and has created a mini pool in next door’s drive.

“It’s like a swimming pool,” she said, referring to the large puddle which had formed after Tuesday’s heavy downpour.

“[The county council] keep saying, ‘it’s on the path, it’s not our responsibility.’ But there isn’t a path. If only they sent somebody with a bit of sense.”

Mr Sheridan, 57, said the council has sent out a man before who has driven past on a motorbike and had a “quick glance” but never come and spoken to them.

He said the council just keep “passing the buck,” adding: “How do the council expect an 81-year-old to leap frog over a puddle?”

“If I happen to fall over out there they would be in serious trouble,” said Mrs Sheridan. “I’m stuck, aren’t I? They have just poo-poo’d it. ‘It’s not bad enough’. How bad has it got to be? It’s got to be two inches deep.”

Councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member for highways, said: “We have been out to inspect the area and will monitor the situation.”