A retired shopkeeper is urging Hertfordshire County Council to fix "cracked" and "broken" gullies that run along Whippendell Road in West Watford.

Vittorio Alcorano, of Whippendell Road, said many of the gullies that run along the pavement are unlevel and could cause dangerous trip hazards.

He said: "People need to know about this and be careful of these dangerous and unlevel trip hazards.

"I have noticed them getting worse for about 10 years now and something needs to be done - people’s safety is at stake and they could be a real danger to the public."

The 72-year-old, who owned a deli shop in Whippendell Road from 1983 to 1994, said some of the gullies, which funnel water from the outside of people’s houses to the drains on the road are so damaged that flooding is sometimes caused.

Mr Alcorano said: "Some of the pavements are so cracked and broken that water can’t travel along them, which can cause water to build up."

Watford Mayor, Dorothy Thornhill, said: "There has been chronic underfunding for decades and nobody really notices until it gets really bad."

Mayor Thornhill added: "It needs some serious funding but we are all between a rock and a hard place with our budgets and it’s all about what’s the priority."

Hertfordshire County Council’s Simon Hoggett said residents are encouraged to report any highway problems on www.hertsdirect.org/highwayfaults or to call 0300 123 4047.