Dog walkers, joggers and families are at risk of injury on a well-used woodland path, a resident fears – because the long period of dry weather has left trees “cracking and creaking” and falling down.

The wooded area at the back of The Rye, in High Wycombe, has become a danger to passers-by, Zia Ullah, a community advocate from the town, has warned.

Mr Ullah said that since the long bout of hot weather earlier this month and in July, a number of trees in the woods have become “extremely” dry and have fallen down – putting walkers at risk.

He said: “The trees are so dried that you can hear branches cracking and creaking but of recent there has been a number of large trees that have just snapped at trunk level and fallen across other trees.

“The small set of woods has a series of criss-cross paths and main paths that walk the length of the river at The Rye. The concerns are that the woods and the paths are frequented by dog walkers and children playing.”

Recognising the danger, one passer-by has attempted to cordon off a small part of the path with warning tape – but Mr Ullah said more needs to be done urgently – before someone is seriously injured.

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council, Sue Robinson, said that the council has been made aware of the situation, adding: “[We] instructed a contractor to go on site last week to make the tree safe.”