A blind woman claims "lazy" drivers who park on pavements are putting her life in danger.

Sue Henshall said the problem is so bad she has been forced to walk on the road with traffic because the pavement is blocked.

Now motorists in Dovercourt are being warned by police that they are breaking the law and will be caught.

Mrs Henshall said it has become a frequent problem for her guide dog Moss and herself to try to battle past cars left, in particular, in Main Road.

And the situation outside the White Horse pub and the Homecraft store is getting worse.

She said: "It is a public footpath, so why should I have to use the road? Why should I take my dog off it and get us injured?

Mrs Henshall, of Maple Close, Dovercourt, said having to get past was frightening for both herself and her labrador and it was not just motorists. Both adult and child cyclists ride on the pavement and she appealed for them to walk when they pass.

Sgt Peter Wood at Harwich police said: "It's thoughtless, it's lazy and it's dangerous.

"Mrs Henshall is a very good example of how unreasonable it is and it will be dealt with," he added

Published Thursday July 1, 2004

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