PEDESTRIANS are warning that a flooded and stagnant town centre underpass could lead to the death of a child.

They say flood water in the subway leading from Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, to The Rye is now ten feet deep despite promises from Buckinghamshire County Council to sort the mess out.

Suzanne Wallis, 40, of Needham Court, Desborough Road, takes her six year old son Daniel to The Rye but told the Free Press she is forced to pass a "dark green stagnant smelling hazard" to get there.

Disgusted pedestrians first complained to the Free Press about the underpass back in March after floods saw it blocked off.

The county council started work in April but walkers say the problem has escalated.

Mrs Wallis said: "It's disgusting and full of filthy rotting rubbish. Nothing seems to been done and it's getting worse."

She added that railings and a sign warning pedestrians away from the subway may entice youngsters.

"Like all kids they'll want to investigate. A child could easily slip through the rails.They could drown there. As the weather gets warmer I know my boy will want to play near the Rye but I wouldn't feel safe. Pedestrians, users of the Rye and children and parents using Busy Bees nursery have all been affected by the subway's closure."

Ian Reed, a spokesman for the county council, said the faulty pipe to pump ground water away from the subway was replaced in April but was itself faulty.

A new sub-contractor will replace the pipe this month and the subway should be opened by July.

He added: "There is a barrier all the way around keeping people away. But we will send someone down there to make sure it's secure."