Children are being put at risk by Oxfordshire County Council's failure to inspect dangerous-looking trees, it has been claimed.

Pensioner Davinia Hitchcock said she has repeatedly warned the council about the poor state of two lime trees on land near the rear entrance of Faringdon Primary School.

Mrs Hitchcock, a neighbour of the school, said the trees overhung her garden and a branch came crashing down in last month's gales.

She said: "At least twice a day a high volume of children, their parents and staff pass under these trees.

"At 74 years of age I am hardly likely to dodge a falling branch. I am fearful of using this part of my garden any more.

"Yet for 21 months, despite agreement of the problem, the council has yet to achieve the pruning of these trees.

"The gales sent another dead limb crashing."

Mrs Hancock, a retired physiotherapist, said the council had assured her the trees would be maintained, but when tree surgeons twice visited the school the limes were ignored.

A spokesman for the county council said Mrs Hancock's complaints were being investigated.

Mrs Hancock said she had decided to speak out following the death of student Angela Regoczy, 22, who was killed when a tree crashed onto a Renault Espace in Gloucester Street, Oxford, during the gales last month.

The Health and Safety Executive is examining Oxford City Council's inspection and maintenance records, amid claims that the tree was rotten.