Great-grans faced fines for clearing up paths

AS autumn leaves piled up on the pavement outside their homes two great-grandmothers decided to take action.

Margaret Baker, 71, and nextdoor neighbour Ann Fowler, 76, gathered enough leaves to fill 50 bin bags, making their cul-de-sac safer for neighbours who struggled on the slippery path.

But the council told the women they had been fly-tipping by leaving the bags for collection – and threatened to fine them.

Miss Baker slipped on the leaves two weeks ago, breaking her arm and thumb. She called the local authority as she had fallen on council land, only to be told leaffall was an ‘act of God’.

The former lollipop lady said: ‘Leaves falling from trees in the autumn could be described as an act of God, but not the council’s failure to sweep them up.’

On Wednesday stickers threatening a fine for dumping illegal waste were put on bags left for collection by the women.

Mrs Fowler, a divorced greatgrandmother of four, said: ‘We were trying to help, and now we are getting threatened with a fine. The leaves are dangerous, and the council should be clearing them themselves.’

Birmingham council said that the women were not threatened with a fine directly. The stickers asked whoever was responsible for the bags to get in touch.

Darren Share from the council apologised for causing the women ‘distress’ and said the bags would be collected as soon as possible.