Despite the dangers posed by the cracks and potholes in the path that runs alongside Thorndown Infants and Junior School's playing field, no repairs have been done on the path because none of the local authorities have ever assumed ownership of it.

A petition, organised by a prospective Liberal Democrat councillor Colin Saunderson, is urging Cambridgeshire County Council to adopt and resurface the path.

It needs 50 signatures before it can be presented.

At the moment the county council, which looks after the lights on the path, only takes responsibility for a small section of it.

One family who will be pleased about the campaign are the Meakins, as their eight-year-old daughter Emma still has a piece of the path in her hand after a fall on it a couple of years ago.

Her father, Steve, said: "It's all cracking and there's lots of areas where it's crumbled away. I daren't think how many people must have tripped over on it.

"Some bits are worse than others, but as a community it needs sorting."
Steve, who works at Waitrose, and his wife, Janice, a self-employed florist, reported that unsuccessful efforts had been made over the years to get the problem sorted.

Mr Saunderson said: "I am hopeful, but it's going to be hard work. I hope the county council realise it's a serious matter and that it must be tackled and not left to fester."

Conservative town councillor for St Ives West, Dick Forway, said the authorities were already aware of the problems and that two possible sources of funding had been identified – an around school funding scheme and Safer Routes to School.