Contractors in Abingdon have been criticised for the mess they left behind.

Work has just been completed on fibre-optic telecommunication cable laying in Northcourt Road, but residents are angry at the condition of the work scene.

They say grass verges have been ploughed up by contractors' vehicles, cables are sticking out of the ground at the corner of Brookside and Northcourt Road and poor-quality asphalt has been laid on roads and pavements.

Town councillor Alan Bryden and district councillor Laurel Symons are leading the protest.

Cllr Bryden said: "The protruding cables, although not live, are dangerous to pedestrians and especially large numbers of children attending schools in the area."

Cllr Symons said: "These companies do not have to pay the local councils. In essence they can invade our streets and cause disruption without any recompense to the public."

The councillors are pressing the companies to make good the damage they have caused and repair the ground along Northcourt Road as soon as possible.

Mike McClory, a spokesman for Murphy's, contractors from Tottenham, north London, said that once the cables had been laid, roads, paths and grass verges were temporarily reinstated.

He said: "The next stage involves us retracing our steps to carry out a permanent reinstatement.

"I understand the concerns of local people but the recent wet weather has not helped. We try to keep disruption to a minimum.

"I was concerned to hear about cables being left exposed and we will be taking steps to remedy the situation."

There have been similar complaints in other parts of the Vale of White Horse and in South Oxfordshire.

The chairman of South Oxfordshire District Council, John Stimson, has complained to local MPs. He is seeking a review of the rules which govern the activities of cable-laying companies.

"They're looking at the possibility of introducing a licence that companies would need to obtain from a local council and a rental charge linked to the length of time the work takes," said Mr Stimson.

"I would like to see more control being exercised by local councils to ensure that work is better co-ordinated."