ELDERLY people living in council bungalows fear someone is going to be hurt unless the authority installs a footpath.

The residents of Tennyson Gardens in Park East Ward, Darlington, have paths from their homes on to the circular road around the cul-de-sac, but because there is no footpath they must walk on the road.

One resident, Milly Mason, 78, said her husband Eric, 84, has been confined to their house since he came out of hospital six weeks ago, because he is wheelchair- bound and cannot get out.

"There is a ramp down to the road, but there is a step on that and I've pulled a muscle trying to get him down it.

"They have said they will sort that out, and I'm still waiting. But even if they do that we still have to walk on the road and it's not safe.

"There are always cars coming round quite fast.

"It's lethal really to expect us to walk on the road, it really is nasty."

Another resident, Hilda Gittings, 82, moved into her bungalow in the street three months ago, and although she is pleased with the house, she fears someone will be hurt on the road.

"There must be 20-or-so houses here, all for elderly people.

" I have an ulcer on my leg, so I have a job to get down the step from my path on to the road, without trying to get out of the way of the cars that come flying round.

"I'm also frightened to let my great-granddaughter out. She's four and without a footpath it's too dangerous."

Darlington Borough Council has spent £230,000 improving the houses in Tennyson Gardens this year - the first improvements to be carried out in the area since 1973.

And although residents are happy with the new bathrooms, kitchens and parking bays, they feel they also need a footpath.

Local councillor Glen Reynolds said: "There are obviously some outstanding issues.

"One which concerns me, is wheelchair-bound residents not having a footpath. It needs to be seriously considered."

A council spokesman said: "Taking into account that Tennyson Gardens has a low volume and a low speed of traffic, as well as a history of being a safe environment for older residents, it is not deemed necessary to construct a footpath given the other improvements."