Leaf blowing has been halted in a South Hams street over fears the action could lead to the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Tony Dale, who lives in a housing area for the over-50s in Totnes, was horrified when he spied a man using the power tool outside his home in Hope Close.

Tony, of Bridgetown, feared the leaf blower posed a risk of spreading the virus as if he was infected, the droplets from his breath could be dispersed far and wide. He hailed it "an insane practice."

"The operator was using a powered blower and he was not wearing any mask," Tony stated.

"Let’s imagine he is asymptomatic of COVID-19 positive. As he breathes out, droplets are expelled up to two metres, hence the two-metre social distance rule.

"However, using a blower in front of him will dissipate any droplets far and wide – a petrol-powered super spreader.

"I think it is an idiotic and dangerous practice."

Totnes district councillor, John Birch, contacted Live West Housing Association, which contracted the work, to ask for it to be stopped.

The company said the work was being carried out by contractors, Countrywide, to make sure outside space and communal areas are kept clean and usable so tenants can use their surroundings for their daily exercise.

In a letter to Tony, Live West assured him any contractor would not be working if they displayed any cold or flu-like symptoms but agreed to stop leaf blowing in his street.

James Reseigh, Live West’s director of neighbourhoods, wrote: "That said, I can understand your concerns relating to the power blower so I have asked Qamar [Live West estate services manager] to make sure that Countrywide no longer use this when visiting your home."

But Tony remains angry and concerned, and insists leaf blowing must be stopped on a national level.

He says it flouts the two-metre distance rule put in place by the Government to slow the spread of coronavirus.

And while he acknowledges there are no specific government guidelines on the use of leaf blowers, Tony feels the danger needs to be discussed.

Live West did not agree to stop leaf blowing at its other homes across the South West incuding Cornwall, Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Tony insisted: "If they feel that I’m right, why wouldn’t they do anywhere else at all? That needs a clear answer."

"It’s an insane practice."

In a letter to Cllr Birch, Mr Reseigh said: "We work with many different grounds maintenance contractors across 24 local authorities where they cover 1,500 neighbourhoods for us, so we’ve not asked them all to stop the use of power blowers given the diverse requirements across these neighbourhoods, and that many of these large contractors continue to work with many other local authorities and deliver their service level agreement for our customers.

"That said, they all risk assess the work they carry out in each neighbourhood which includes the use of power blowers.

"The only complaint we’ve received is that from Mr Dale so at this stage, have only stopped clearing paths with a power blower in the Totnes area.

"We will of course, continue to monitor government guidance daily and see if we get any further concerns from customers so this may change in the future."

Cllr Birch hailed the response "disappointing," adding: "I am pleased Live West stopped using power blowers in Totnes whilst carrying out ground maintenance.

"It is just a pity it hasn’t given instructions to all its contractors operating in other areas that power blowers should not be used, as there is a chance their use could increase the circulation of the COVID-19 virus."