OVERGROWN grass verges are one of the biggest bugbears for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians across Oxfordshire.

But now a brave green group have stuck their heads above the undergrowth to call for a radical approach: don't cut roadside verges at all during the summer.

North Oxfordshire Green Party wants Oxfordshire County Council to hold off trimming road verges until the end of August.

This is to allow them to become havens for wildflowers which support countless other species.

Green Party spokeswoman Jane Hamel, who lives in Banbury, said: "Road verges are increasingly important as ‘wildlife corridors’, allowing wildlife to move safely from one part of the country to another.

"The best way to manage verges to increase the diversity of flora and the invertebrates is to cut verges once in late summer, once the seeds have been shed: usually August is the best time for Oxfordshire, and to take away the clippings. And, if possible cut once more before Christmas.

"Whilst we recognise that sightlines have to be preserved for vehicles for safety, there are many strips of road verge that could benefit wildlife and become attractive wildflower havens."

She also suggested cutting verges once in February before the flowering season and once again in September as an alternative.

At present Oxfordshire County Council carries out one big cut of all grass verges every year starting in June – the middle of the flowering period for many plants.

In previous years, verges were cut five times a year, but this was slashed to just twice in 2015.

The budget was cut again in 2016 from £791,996 to £655,515, and now the council carries out just one main cut.

Last summer as many verges started to become overgrown jungles in June, the Oxford Mail was inundated with calls from drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who said having their sightlines obscured was creating an accident waiting to happen.

One of those was Paul Elliott from Witney, whose cycle path to work in Eynsham was so overgrown he could not see it beneath his wheels.

He said the idea of only cutting verges at the end of the summer was 'absolutely ridiculous'.

He went on: "People who use footpaths and cycle tracks tend to use them more in the summer.

"While I appreciate people are worried about wildlife, a little bit of cutting won't hurt that much.

"Last year my path got to the point where it was actually dangerous."

North Oxfordshire Green Party said Britain has lost 97 per cent of its ancient wildflower meadows since 1930 and 20 species of bee since 1900.

Oxfordshire County Council said it would 'consider' the request.

Spokesman Martin Crabtree said the authority already managed 30 ‘road verge nature reserves’ (RVNRs) to enhance biodiversity by providing habitat for flowers and insects.

But he went on: “We will consider whether there is anything that can be done to improve biodiversity through the way we cut grass in other locations within our budget.”