WRECKED paving slabs from illegally parked cars have led to a cut-through - from Basildon station to Nethermayne - becoming a danger to the public, it has been claimed.

Pressure is now mounting on Essex Highways to step in after dozens of vehicles have taken to parking outside Trafford House tearing up the pavement as they go.

The shattered slabs, damaged over the last three months, have already caused one woman to be taken to hospital after she tripped and hurt her leg.

Nethermayne councillor Stephen Hodge’s pleas with Essex Highways to sort out the situation have fallen on deaf ears so far.

The authority has deemed the situation is not one which “requires immediate attention”. The decision has left residents very disappointed.

Basildon postman Michelle Fairman, who lives in Wickford, said: “It’s ridiculous.

“I was delivering post when a white van started reversing on the pavement as an old lady walked behind it.

“A man ran over and had to hit the van to stop the driver from knocking her over. She had a lucky escape.

“Look at the state of the stones, anyone could trip over and hurt themselves. Badly.”

About 30 paving slabs, weighing almost a pound a piece, sit dislodged.

Taxi driver David Buckwell, 64, who lives in Thurrock, joined the calls for urgent action.

He said: “People are usually rushing from the train station down here, often in the dark.

“All it will take is for a car to reverse into someone on the pavement. Something has to be done. And soon.”

Mr Hodge vented his fury after Highways’ refusal to clampdown on the parked cars and sort the dangerous pavement out.

He said: “I’ve been running around trying to sort this out but nobody is taking responsibility.

“One of my residents, a lady in her forties, had to go to hospital after falling over those stones. It’s a death trap waiting to happen.”

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “Our engineers carried out a temporary repair to make the area safe earlier this week.

“We are now considering the best permanent solutions to the issue, which may include enforcement action.”