Bid to chop 'vicious' bush injuring passers-by in suburb

The spikes are found on the branches of a shrub called a pyracantha, which is also commonly known as a firethorn due to its flame-coloured berries and prickly stems.

Steve Morphew, Labour county councillor for Catton Grove, said how usually once the birds have eaten the berries off the shrub in Brightwell Road, NR3 it gets cut right back by Norfolk County Council.

Cllr Morphew, who has the same shrub in his back garden, explained how even when he dons a suit of gardening armour still he ends up being shredded by its thorns.

He said for some reason this year the county council has not carried out maintenance work on the shrub and has received similar complaints about other work across the city.

"Pyracantha is a shrub with vicious spikes," he said.

"As well as the other neglected and overgrown bushes this one in Brightwell Road has started to block the footpath.

"It snags clothes, scratches people and pets passing and now the nights are closing in it is easy for the unwary to get a nasty surprise.

"It is impossible to get a pushchair or wheelchair past without brushing against it and woe betide your hands if you try to push those sharp spikes out of the way.

"We report these to the county council who just ignore their responsibilities as they haven't put any money in the budget to carry out the work.

"Many still seem to think it is the city council that does the work but it's the county council that is entirely at fault.

"We pay a lot of council tax to Norfolk County Council and we don't expect to have to put up with overgrown paths and shrubs that are a hazard."

Norfolk County Council did not respond to a request for comment.