PENSIONERS falling and injuring themselves on new paving in Ferndown have prompted an urgent investigation amid claims the wrong sort of materials were used.

Complaints have been made to Dorset County Council that the block paving outside East Dorset Housing Association's new development, Elizabeth Court in Victoria Road, Ferndown, is buckled, uneven and wobbly after just a few months of being laid by contractors. It's claimed the paving blocks have been unable to withstand lorries that need to drive over them to the access road which leads behind the development.

Resident Frank Rye, 80, said: "The pavement tiles have all been breaking up and rocking. Three weeks ago my wife walked on a tile which rocked and she fell, bruising her arm. It has been like this for months and nothing seems to be getting done about it." The county council, the housing association and local councillor Queenie Comfort held a site visit last week to try and resolve the problem.

Cllr Comfort said: "I have heard about several people tripping. I believe the wrong materials were used. It's in a dreadful state."

Dorset County Council technical officer Bill Green said: "We are taking over the maintenance of the paving once it has been complete but we have not been directly supervising the works.

"Clearly a problem has occurred. I was aware last winter that there was cracking and we agreed remedial works last February, but they have not yet been done. We have put forward suggestions but it is for the developers to decide what to do.

"We are keen to get this resolved."

Paul Read, East Dorset Housing Association's development and new business manager, said: "A trial hole was dug on Friday to investigate why this has happened and check whether the blocks were laid correctly and

see if the right base was used.

"It has taken time. Obviously we want to bring about a permanent solution not a temporary measure and we are taking corrective action."