EXTRA staff have been drafted in to help a council which has let the grass grow under its feet.
Notts County Council is running weeks late with its grass cutting, prompting complaints.
As reported in the Post on June 1, the problem led to grass on one side of a Carlton road growing wild, while grass on the opposite side, cut by a different council, was neat and trim.
The county revealed yesterday that some verges and fields have been cut three weeks late.
It said the weather combined with the fact it has taken over grass cutting from some district councils has led to a heavy workload.
Highways officer Chris Charnley said: "Certainly for the next cutting cycle in the next few days we should be catching up well. We had periods in April where it was still very cold so the grass didn't grow.
"We got to the point where there was no point in cutting the grass at that time. This was followed by a very sunny May where the grass then grew very quickly."
To deal with the problem, five extra gangs of grass cutters have been brought in.
Most of the 22 staff cutting grass are now working weekends and overtime.
The county took over grass cutting from Ashfield District, Broxtowe Borough and Mansfield District councils this year.
The Post reported last month how two Carlton pensioners returned from holiday to find patches of grass on either side of their street cut at different lengths.
Bill and Sylvia Fenton, of Shelford Road, were baffled when they were told it was because one side of the road, at the junction with County Road, was managed by Notts County Council while the other was looked after by Gedling Borough Council.
The county council has since cut the grass.
Mr Fenton, 65, said: "I think we touched a nerve. It seems we got them moving on it.
"About four or five working days after the story they came out and cut it.
"We all know about the cuts to councils but when you end up with two different ones cutting grass that close you think 'what's this?' "