Farmers are being urged to work together for the good of St Keverne parish and improve the state of the roads.

At the last meeting of the parish council the poor standard of the hedge trimming – and lack of any trimming on some roads – was slammed by all members, who believed it was time to take action.

Councillor Roger Richards, himself a farmer, said it was like “driving through tunnels” in some areas, the hedges were so overgrown.

He claimed: “Our parish is getting that grown in it won’t be able to trade soon. We’ve left it go. If we leave it forever it’s going to be a massive job.”

Mr Richards believed if farmers got together and worked out a plan, along with other landowners, to ensure all the hedges were trimmed in the parish, then a better job would be done.

Residents should also take responsibility, cutting their own hedges.

“The farmers are willing to go and do a lot more cutting than they have in the past,” he added.

Councillor David Lambrick, also a farmer, said with Cornwall Council still cutting some hedges “nobody knows what’s going on.”

He argued it would be better if the county took trimming out of its budget, making farmers totally responsible.

Councillor Sarah Lyne agreed a better job would be done, saying of the council’s work: “At the top of Coverack it just looks like they have pulled the branches off.”

Councillor Bill Frisken said: “If all farmers agreed together, to do it on a certain date on a certain month, and householders get their hedges.”

Members planned to discuss the idea more at their next meeting.