The "unpleasant" state of overgrown grass verges in Norwich has been blasted, as more complaints are directed at Norfolk council bosses.

County councillors have been receiving increasing numbers of complaints about the unkept state of verges this summer.

Eastern Daily Press: Overgrown verges in NorwichOvergrown verges in Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Norfolk County Council bosses said, at a recent meeting where the issue was raised, that this year's unusual weather has triggered higher-than-normal grass growth and that a second cut is due soon.

The council scaled back cuts over recent years to save money and encourage biodiversity, but councillors said the situation in some parts of Norwich has become ridiculous.

Eastern Daily Press: County councillor Maxine WebbCounty councillor Maxine Webb (Image: Newsquest)

Maxine Webb, Labour county councillor for the city's Wensum division, highlighted the issue at a meeting of County Hall's infrastructure and development committee.

She said: "Some of the areas are in a real state. It has got nothing to do with rewilding or anything like that - this is uncut, dead grass which has grown very high and is quite hazardous in some places.

"They are in deprived areas quite often and it always seems the same streets which get left.

"People are walking around in those areas quite a lot, there's not a lot of car use and it is really unpleasant. I hope that's going to be sorted out."

Karl Rands, the county council's assistant director of highways services, said: "In terms of urban grass cutting, I am sorry to hear there have been some issues, especially in the city."

He said the second urban cut had started last week and that he hoped any areas which had been missed would be picked up as part of that.

Eastern Daily Press: The height of Norfolk's grass verges has sparked complaintsThe height of Norfolk's grass verges has sparked complaints (Image: Aaron McMillan)

Mr Rands said: "I have discussed this with the supply chain and the contractor. The performance this year has been difficult because of the very, very strong growth in terms of grass both in terms of the urban and the rural cut."

READ MORE: Crash concerns raised over reduced cuts to Norfolk verges

Norfolk County Council has been reducing the number of cuts since 2015.

Eastern Daily Press: Overgrown verges in NorwichOvergrown verges in Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

In urban areas, they have gone from five a year to four, while rural cuts on C and unclassified roads have gone down to one cut.

It remains at two cuts on A and B roads, but roadside nature reserves - verges protected for their special wildlife interest - are cut separately from the usual programme.