A DISABLED pensioner, who is struggling to cross the road to reach his local pub, is urging local authorities to make his neighbourhood more wheelchair-friendly.

Michael Bruton, of Old Marston, said The Red Lion pub in Oxford Road was almost impossible to return home from in a wheelchair due to the street's high kerbs and pavements.

The 78-year-old said he hoped Oxfordshire County Council would "sit-up and listen" to his struggle and lower the kerb.

Mr Bruton said he had contacted the council about the issue several times this year but so far nothing has been done.

He said: "The Red Lion pub is on the corner of Oxford Road, on the bend and at some parts of the road you can see cars coming but from other places you can't see anything.

"I'm usually okay getting there myself but it's getting back by myself which is tricky, as I can barely see anything and it's hard to get down from the kerb.

"I often have to just sit there and listen in the silence to see if there might be something coming round the corner, but sometimes I don't want to risk it."

Mr Bruton, a retired British Airways computer consultant, said he often had to visit the pub with friends or family in order to ensure a safe journey.

He said: "I've started to take someone with me because that way I can get them to go out into the middle of the road quite quickly and see if there is any traffic coming but I shouldn't have to always do that.

"I'm not asking for much, I don't necessarily want a crossing put in, I just want them to lower the kerbs to make it more wheelchair-friendly for people like me."

Independent city councillor for Marston Mick Haines said he thought it would be a good idea for Mr Bruton to have a safe place to cross.

He said: "I know he's had quite a lot of trouble in the past year with crossing to and from the pub and along that road and I think it would be really great if he could get out and about safely in his wheelchair."

Martin Crabtree from Oxfordshire County Council said the council was not aware of this "particular issue" but added it would be happy to see whether adjustments to the pavement could be made to assist Mr Bruton.