A pensioner took it upon himself to chop down a hedge blocking access to a food bank for over nine weeks.

Ken Burchell picked up his shears for an afternoon of hedge-cutting in a bid to clear a path blocked by a huge bush.

But the work is not yet done, as he said the council is refusing to clear the loose branches and leaves he's dumped on a green space after the community-spirited act.

The Argus: Ken chopping the branchesKen chopping the branches (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The hedge was blocking a path between Newick Road and Ringmer Road near St George's Hall, which is used as a food bank by the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership.

"I was just gutted to see the hedge grow so big people couldn't walk down, because there’s a perfectly good path underneath and the elderly and disabled have got to go to the shops and the bus stops," said Ken.

"So I went to Asda and bought a great big pair of shears. Me and my friend Andy said we should do it as part of our community spirit."

The Argus: He cut each branch individually with his shearsHe cut each branch individually with his shears (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The pair spent the day trimming back the hedge, cutting the branches and leaves and throwing the remains into the green space of St George's Hall opposite.

"Lots of people passed by and said thank you to me. Someone was very grateful and said at least someone was doing it, as the council wouldn't.

"I don’t do it for the thanks, I did it so people could use it.”

The Argus: The cleared pathwayThe cleared pathway (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Ken said the hedge was impassable when he went to visit St George's Hall to vote in the local elections on May 4 - now over nine weeks ago.

The Google Streetview car also passed by in May, revealing the state the pathway was in.

Ken said he raised his concerns with his local councillor, Tobias Sheard, before cutting down the hedge - but didn't receive a reply.

He added: "I’d do it again if the council let roads get into a state like this again."

The Argus: Ken next to the remains of the hedge, which he now wants removedKen next to the remains of the hedge, which he now wants removed (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Brighton and Hove City Council has told Ken to report the remaining debris on its website.

A spokesman said: "Councillors always endeavour to deal with resident queries as soon as is practicable.

"Our website has information on how to report a problem.

"We would always advise residents to report such issues as advised on our website so that they can be dealt within the appropriate manner."