SCORES of pensioners are facing a daily dilemma. They can risk their lives crossing a busy rat-run, or make a giant detour round town -- to get to a supermarket just yards from their home.

And the OAPs living off West Street, Gravesend, have been told they cannot have a zebra crossing allowing them to get to the Asda superstore in just minutes.

Bill Theobald, aged 86, lives in Regents Court and said: "To get across the road is an absolute nightmare -- it could take me half-an-hour. So we have to walk all the way round town which takes about 25 minutes there, and the same on the way back.

"It is outrageous we have to walk that far to do our shopping."

Mr Theobald approached Gravesham Council about getting a zebra crossing outside the old folks' homes but was turned down blank.

A council spokesman told the News Shopper: "There is no demand for a crossing at that site. We have had only the one call asking for a crossing there. And the route they have to take round town is fairly flat."

But Mr Theobald says up to 100 pensioners trek round the houses to the superstore.

Funding for a crossing would have to come from Kent County Council Gravesham can carry out surveys and press KCC to take action.

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