Verging on ridiculous! Locals slam council for letting grass verges overgrow so much you can no longer see road sign

Residents of a sleepy rural village have slammed the council for allowing grass verges to overgrow so much that they are no longer able to see road signs. 

Locals in Sopley, Dorset, have been left fuming after the grass shot up to 5 feet in height causing it to cover signs telling motorists they are entering the village.

Other have joked that the picturesque village is now twinned with the Amazon jungle such is the extent of the out-of-control undergrowth.

Dorset Council, like many other local authorities, has been deliberately allowing the grass in green public spaces to grow over the summer to boost wildlife and biodiversity.

In a campaign branded Love Your Verge, drivers are encouraged to make space for nature with colourful artwork that characterises the importance of verges for protecting wildlife.

But many in the area claim the scheme is leaving the places looking a mess and is a merely a cost-cutting exercise. 

One local in Sopley said: 'It seems the village is now twinned with the Amazon jungle.

'The grass in places is now 5ft high. It looks an absolute mess.

'God help anyone looking for the village because they can no longer see the signs for it.'

Greenspace manager at Dorset Council, Russell Goff, said: 'Our approach must strike a balance between cutting verges regularly for visibility and working to enhance Dorset's natural environment.'

Nick Ireland, Dorset Council's climate and environment lead, said: 'We recognise the climate emergency is closely connected with the nature crisis, so taking steps to restore nature now can help to tackle the climate crisis later.'