A KIDDERMINSTER councillor furious about overgrown foliage obscuring street name signs has taken matters - and shears - into his own hands.

Mike Oborski cut back overhanging branches, believing they had become a potential menace to drivers.

On Sunday, the Wyre Forest district councillor cleared foliage from around the Husum Way sign.

He said hundreds of signs were becoming overgrown across the district, some were defaced and others were missing.

"We want missing and damaged road name signs replaced and we need the foliage around overgrown signs to be cut back now," he went on.

"Overgrown road name signs are not only inconvenient - the situation is also potentially dangerous when motorists dither because they cannot work out where they are trying to go.

"We want this situation sorted as quickly as possible."

Andrew Dickens, head of cultural, leisure and commercial services at the district council said: "We are responsible for the physical maintenance of the signs but my understanding is that if it is a private hedge covering the sign it is the responsibility of the highway authority."

Andy Broom, of the Worcestershire Highways Partnership, said he did not believe it normally dealt with overgrown hedges and would be discussing the issue with the district council.