COUNCILLORS will decide today if 25 trees in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle are for the chop.

The Ribble Valley Council's Community Committee will be asked to approve the felling and pruning of dead, dying and dangerous trees.

The removal last October of 20 trees surrounding Clitheroe Castle Keep was greeted with a storm of protest from local residents.

They formed a pressure group, STOMP: Save our Trees on the Mount Please, and prevented a further 14 trees being axed at the eleventh hour.

Tonight's meeting will hear that a survey of grounds to the east of Clitheroe Castle has revealed 25 beech and sycamore trees are dead, dying or in a dangerous condition.

Council officers will recommend their felling and replacement with a minimum of 20 new trees, including oak, birch and rowan.

Engineering manager Graham Jagger said: "Selective felling and pruning will allow us to supplement existing tree cover and diversify the treescapes, species and age range.

"Around 20 new trees will be planted, depending on the amount of space available after selective felling, with further to follow in due course.

"We propose the work be delayed until late summer or early autumn, following consultation with the Garden Historical Society."

Council officers claim the felling will open up views to the town and countryside from the castle grounds.

The tree felling is part of an on-going council scheme to improve footpaths and landscaping at the historical site.

Nobody at STOMP was available for comment.