A CHORLEY pensioner has launched a scathing attack on highways chiefs for failing to install dropped kerbs in Astley Village which, he claims, stops him from getting across the road.

Leonard Lord, 82, of Banastre, off Great Meadow, Astley Village, suffers from a range of medical problems which prevent him walking long distances and he has to rely on a mobility scooter to get around.

But, he claims, for the last two years he has been housebound and feels like a "prisoner in his own home" due to the lack of dropped kerbs on the village's roads.

Although he has had a ramp and safety handle built at the back of his property, by North British Housing, the pensioner struggles to get out of his front door because there is no dropped kerb.

And such is the problem, Leonard has had to resort to leaving two blocks of wood in front of the kerbstone as a makeshift ramp.

Now he is calling on the county council to build dropped kerbs at the end of all main roads in a bid to help people with disability problems manoeuvre their scooters safely.

He said: "It's scandalous. I have got one of these four-wheeled scooters, but there is not one place on the left side of Great Meadow where you can get up the kerb.

"There are no ramps whatsoever.

"You would think the council would make places where people can get up on to the footpath.

"One or two people have had trouble.

"A lady came off her scooter the other day after she had tried to get up the kerb. It's ridiculous.

"There are so many old people these days with these scooters.

" There should be ramps at every road end, like you have on pelican crossings.

"The kids round here have put stones everywhere, and moved the ramp."

A spokesman for the Lancashire County Council said: "As a general rule we like to install dropped kerbs when we resurface pavements and roads.

"However, we will take a look at Mr Lord's particular problems and see what can be done."