THE destruction of two ancient trees in a Trowbridge neighbourhood has angered some residents who had no chance to defend them.

On Wednesday March 19, neighbours received a letter from West Wiltshire District Council informing them that the two Wellingtonia trees in Rodwell Park, thought to be more than 150 years old, would be felled.

In an attempt to save the trees, resident Angela Honeywell, 37, and her partner, contacted the council immediately to find out what was going on but tree surgeons arrived the next day and began to lop off branches.

Mrs Honeywell, who works at Clarendon College, said: "They are very old, grand trees and it is very sad to see them being dismembered and torn down branch by branch. I'm gutted."

"We had no idea this was going to happen until the letter arrived and it left us with less than 24 ours to react.

"The letter said residents had complained about the trees but I don't know anyone who dislikes them. They are a feature of our street and bring a bit of countryside into our urban environment.

"There is also a family of squirrels who live in the trees who have had a very rude awakening.

"Even if some people had complained the rest of us who enjoy the trees should be given the chance to defend them."

In the letter, Phil Hart from the council's grounds maintenance department said: "Following complaints from residents an inspection of the trees has been carried out which recommends they are felled within a year."

Mrs Honeywell, said: "One of the tree surgeons told me they were diseased. I'm no expert but they look very healthy to me. That is until the tree surgeons cut all the branches off."

Resident John Irons, 56, is a community fire safety officer. He said: "We get home from work and a beautiful tree has become a totem pole. I'm disgusted. I accept they might be diseased and would therefore have to come down but they haven't given us a chance to have our say.

"It's very underhand of the council giving us such short notice. It has taken part of the character of the street away. We want replacements."

The council plans to bring in a crane to help remove the massive trunks once all the branches have been removed.