An elderly woman who had to hitchike home after her electric scooter broke down is calling for action to be taken to repair damaged pavements in her neighbourhood.

Barbara Burrows, 79, from Lyme Regis Road, Banstead, said something must be done about the uneven roads, damaged surfaces and sloped pavements she has experienced on "extremely stressful and dangerous" trips to a high street and health clinic.

Ms Burrows, who is crippled by arthritis, said: "I just wish someone with authority would take my scooter for the same trips I made, and then they would clearly comprehend my distress."

Last month, on September 17, she found the damaged pavements increasingly difficult to navigate while driving her scooter to Nork Clinic, in Nork Way.

She said: "On my return journey, the pavements proved too much for my two-month-old scooter, which broke down at the top of Green Curve and I was obliged to knock on the doors of strangers to get help.

"I had to leave my brand new scooter in the care of a stranger, and flag down a passing car to give me a lift home. This was extremely stressful to an elderly lady, not in the best of health."

Ms Burrows also endured a "hairy" trip to Banstead High Street last month. She said the pavements slope acutely towards the road and cars are parked too far onto the pavements.

She said there are "appalling" and uneven pavements in Lyme Regis Road outside her elderly sheltered housing scheme.

"Apart from the difficulty in using mobility scooters, the pavements are so hazardous for elderly pedestrians, than most of us do not venture very far from our doors," she added.

In response to her complaint, Surrey County councillor Ken Gulati said he would raise the issue with relevant officers.

He said: "I am very sorry to hear of your problems. I know our pavements are generally poor as is the case generally outside the main centres."

A Surrey County Council spokeswoman said paving slabs will be replaced with tarmac in Lyme Regis Road as part of the council's road maintainance project Operation Hozizon.

She said: "Lyme Regis Road is scheduled for complete resurfacing under Operation Horizon this financial year."