An ELDERLY and disabled Saltcoats woman was left in ‘agony’ after tripping over grass that has grown several feet high around her home.

Linda Metcalfe, of Old Raise Road, told the Herald that she is afraid to hang her washing out because of the danger the long grass poses having slipped and hurting her hip.

She said: “It’s right up the fence at the front and out the back.

“I went to put the washing out, and I fell and tripped on the long grass.

“I was in agony.”

Mrs Metcalfe has previously broken both her hips and said the fall has set her back.

She is also concerned that a ramp she is waiting to be installed in her property will be unable to be put it if the grass remains so overgrown.

The 68-year-old, who has multiple disabilities and has had cancer three times, said the council told her it would not be cut until the end of July.

Her husband of 48 years, Jimmy Metcalfe, has been Linda’s full-time carer since 1992. The couple have been shielding since the start of lockdown and have watched as the grass outside has grown longer and longer.

She said: “From number three to 13 of Old Raise Road, the grass is terrible.

“I’m supposed to be getting a ramp in. There’s no way they can put a ramp in with the grass that length.”

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “We are very sorry to hear of this incident and wish the resident a speedy recovery.

“Our Streetscene team was scheduled to attend this area in the next few days.

“Like the majority of other local authorities in Scotland, our grass-cutting services were temporarily suspended in March, with grounds maintenance staff redeployed to other essential frontline services, such as household bin collections, to assist in our response to COVID-19.

“Our staff are working flat out to clear the grass cutting backlog on a priority basis, and we expect a return to normal service over the course of summer.

“Significant in-roads have already been made since the full service resumed earlier this month.”