Calls have been made for Norfolk County Council to keep a better grip on its grassy verges, after growth was measured at more than a metre at one spot outside people's homes. 

Breckland district councillors Linda Monument, Roger Atterwill, and Richard Duffield all spoke out over verges in their wards at Breckland Council’s annual general meeting, and called for the county council to do a better job of keeping them neat and tidy.

Mrs Monument said she had measured some of the grass along Greenfields Road in Dereham at 42 inches - 107cm high - on May 19.

Some sections of the verge had been freshly cut, apparently by residents, while others had been almost reclaimed by nature.

Dereham Times: Road verges along Greenfields Road in DerehamRoad verges along Greenfields Road in Dereham (Image: Aaron McMillan)

READ MORE: 'It looks like a tip' - Breckland residents bemoan uncut verges

Mrs Monument said that although this section of the verge had now been cut, the county council should strive to keep them in better condition, and threw doubt on their value for local wildlife. 

She said: “I cannot believe you are getting an awful lot of wildlife on a narrow piece of land next to the road in a residential street.

Dereham Times: Breckland councillor Linda Monument measured the grass on one of the verges on Greenfields Road in DerehamBreckland councillor Linda Monument measured the grass on one of the verges on Greenfields Road in Dereham (Image: Aaron McMillan)

“There is a time and place for it, if the windmill field was overgrown like this, there would be a huge number of complaints.

"The weather has been very wet and warm which has encouraged growth, now is the time to cut it.”

A county council spokesperson said: “Norfolk’s roadside verges are only cut for safety reasons and not appearance.

"Roadside nature reserves are individually managed to benefit the plants and animals that live there.”

Dereham Times: The grass on one of the verges on Greenfields Road in DerehamThe grass on one of the verges on Greenfields Road in Dereham (Image: Aaron McMillan)

The spokesman said the council cut grass verges along A and B roads twice a year between May and September.

More minor roads classified C and those given the 'U' prefix for 'unclassified' are cut once annually, followed by a 'safety cut' if required.

The spokesman said urban roads were typically cut four times a year, depending on the growing season, and areas maintained on the county council’s behalf by other local councils may see more frequent cuts.