BURNHAM residents have hit out at a council after a lack of maintenance in the town’s parks has forced them to fork out on hefty vet bills.

Several dog walkers in Riverside Park, Burnham, have had to take their dogs to the vets to have grass seed darts removed from paws and ears.

Les and Sandra Smith’s poodle, Pinto, needed treatment when darts became embedded in his paws and deep in his ear canal.

While Pauline Bose had to have her daughter’s dog sedated in order to remove a dart from her ear.

The owners say that Maldon District Council’s failure to maintain the grounds and cut the grass is what led to the two incidents.

Mrs Bose said: “Not only does it look unsightly but the long grass seeds get in the dogs ears. Also, there could be adders in there. I think we should all start calling the Council until they take notice, it looks awful.”

Sandra Smith agreed, adding: “Having these edges missed on the cutting caused us to have a £200 vet bill, I think I will send it to the Council.”