A GROUP of residents are protesting after workmen removed nearly 30 trees and shrubs from a verge in their street.

Homeowners in Sarmatian Fold in Ribchester were horrified to find the flowering 8ft high trees and berry-covered shrubs being removed on the orders of Ribble Valley Borough Council from along a 100ft wall in their street on Wednesday afternoon.

Only one flowering cherry tree has been left.

The estate was built by contractors Marcus Worthington around seven years ago when the trees were planted by the company.

It is believed the council called in the firm to remove the trees as part of its plans to adopt the road.

Resident Carol Jemson, said: "It looks absolutely awful. It's just a long, bare brick wall now. The trees made the area look attractive and I'm sure that by removing them the wildlife living in them will have been affected.

"The road is unadopted and the workers told us they'd been contracted to remove the trees as the council did not want to maintain them once the road was adopted."

She added: "Everyone around here is very angry as no one told us what the council was planning to do or even bothered to consult us. The residents would have been happy to maintain them if the council didn't want to, but no contact was made with any of us, not even a phone call."

Resident Serena Hudson said: "The trees weren't really apparent from my house, but those living nearer to it used to have a lovely view, especially as all the flowers and red berries were out." Serena added: "A group of residents spoke to the workmen who actually agreed with what we were saying and left the site, but we've been on tenterhooks to see if they or someone else comes back to finish the job off."

A spokesperson for Ribble Valley Borough Council said: "As far as I'm aware the decision to remove the trees is part of our plans to adopt the road and is currently being looked at."

No one in the council's engineering department, which is dealing with the scheme, was available for comment.