February 9, 2001 10:06: FURIOUS residents say they will refuse to pay their council tax unless something is done quickly about their closed footpath.

"These people seem to forget who is paying their wages," said 76-year-old Reginald Lenharth, of Glory Close, Wooburn Green.

He added: "People are having to walk way out of their way to get to places that are just down the road especially old people from my close and parents walking their kids to school."

Glory Mill Lane, in Wooburn Green, was thrown into chaos last November when the road collapsed into the river.

Buckinghamshire County Council closed the footpath across the bridge on Monday on safety grounds after the council's engineers found structural defects.

Hilda Evans, of Holtspur Avenue, said: "They won't be getting any council tax unless something is done.

"When I finish work I have to get off at the Green, walk all the way up Wooburn Green Lane and all the way along to the other end of Holtspur Avenue. That's about another half mile or so. There isn't even any signs up warning you."

A spokesman from the county council said: "The bridge will remain closed until repairs on it take place later in the year.

"The county council is looking into providing a temporary footbridge."