The cutting of grass on highways in Epsom and Ewell has resumed after it was suspended by the council during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) said this week it was resuming the trimming of greenery and grass verges after normal practise was suspended due to the Covid-19 virus.

"Following the recent good weather and rain, the grass is now in need of cutting. Leaving it any longer would make it difficult and impractical to cut.

"It is particularly important that we keep the grass fairly short at the moment as people are using grass verges to maintain social distancing while daily exercising," Former Mayor and Councillor Neil Dallen said.

"We also need to ensure that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians can see clearly at junctions and bends in the road", he added.

EEBC usually cuts the verges six times a year, with four of these paid for by Surrey County Council as the local highway authority.

Additional cuts are carried out as a result of requests from borough residents in previous years.

EEBC said the latest round of trimming would help encourage biodiversity in the borough.

A spokesperson also warned residents that in the immediate wake of the cutting the effect could be untidy:

"Because of the interruption to the start of the grass cutting season, the results of the first cut may look messy. We request residents’ understanding."