Concerns have been raised about two muddy footpaths in the Colyton area, which are becoming a "danger" to the public.

Parish councillors were asked at this week's virtual meeting to make improvements to the main public footpath between Colyton and Colyford, which has recently become difficult to pass due to the amount of mud.

Resident Ian Priestly said the path, which runs from the White Hart bridge along the river, was a "dangerous disgrace", six inches deep with mud.

He said it was encouraging people to walk elsewhere through the fields or on the road between Colyton and Colyford, which does not have a pavement.

"The state it's in at the moment is forcing people to wander away from the footpath and go through the field, as they're looking for firmer ground to walk on, and that I've heard is annoying the farmer," he said.

"I think the parish council has a duty of care and responsibility to make amenities fit for purpose and at the moment this is not.

"It might take up to 300 tonnes of scalping according to my estimations and, if it does, that's what it's going to take to make it work.

"It's nasty up there; it's the main way to get between Colyton and Colyford and lot of people are now taking to the roads and lanes because of the state of the tracks, and there's an awful lot of people out walking at the moment.

"It is busy and people aren't sticking to the track, they're going on the lanes and it's getting dangerous."

Mr Priestly said the parish council did attempt to improve the path last year, putting down a few wheelbarrows of river stone, but these had now all sunk into the ground and disappeared.

"There's a big budget to be spent on footpaths, can we please spend it?" he asked.

But council chairman Andrew Parr said the footpath did not belong to the parish council.

"We don't own that land and can't do anything to the land without the owner's permission, and no one's going to give us permission at this time of year," he replied.

"We will have to wait like we had to last year until the weather is drier."

Mr Priestly asked that the council did not delay in requesting permission to improve the path, adding: "It's in the farmer's interest to get it done as it would keep people on the path. If we start asking now we'll have time to get it done in May or June when the ground firms up."

Later in the meeting, councillors appeared more concerned about another public footpath between Govers Meadow and Ham Lane field in Colyton.

Cllr Colin Pady said the path, which runs behind Govers Meadow through a small horse paddock, had become "very waterlogged and muddy" as the ditch running alongside it had not been sufficiently cleared out by the landowner.

Cllr Ken Clifford added: "It is dangerous, I see elderly people going along and they slip. There's going to be an accident there, someone's going to break a hip, their arm or leg.

"It's always going to be a problem there because it's so narrow. Really at this time of year people shouldn't go down the fields because it's all mud."

Cllr Steve Real commented: "I walk that path a few days ago and it's virtually impossible, it's mud six inches deep all the way through. I think we ought to be closing that part of the footpath until it dries out and work is done."

It was agreed to write a letter to the landowner to ask them to clear the ditch.