RESIDENTS and an environmentalist from Pendle have said the removal of trees and bushes at a cemetery in Winewall will have destroyed an important habitat for insects and birds.

The cemetery, which belonged to the former Ingamite Church at Hill Top, was recently taken over by the council and is close to a development of flats.

Angela Hawkins, of Back Hill Top, was walking her dog this week when she noticed bushes and trees in the graveyard were being chopped down.

She said: "I asked the man why he was doing it and he said it was the council's decision. I've lived here 27 years and these trees have been growing during that time.

"The graveyard was always left fairly unattended but it was a perfect wildlife haven. Everyone living round here feels the same about it."

When Angela saw what was happening she contacted local Friends of the Earth campaigner Brian Jackson who said he could not believe what the council was doing. He said: "They have been chopping down trees which were deliberately planted by neighbours. It is a very valuable site in terms of insects and birds.

"People are trying to create wildlife habitats,while the habitats that were created naturally are being destroyed. How can the council have won an award for its 'green' approach when it condones this?"

But Colin Patten, manager of the council's Parks, Cemeteries and Outdoor Recreation department, hit back at the claims and said the maintenance work was part of a bid to make the area safer for the public.

He said: "The council only fairly recently agreed to take over the responsibility and liability associated with the area, particularly the former burial ground. There was a sum of money handed over by the trustees of the church for maintenance.

"One of the things we noticed was that there was an awful lot of potential hazards up there and accepting out responsibility we wanted to make it as safe as possible.

"We are taking out some self-feeding things such as various trees in order to expose areas where there are collapsed graves and to endeavour to fill this areas up. We are not proposing to cause widespread devastation just undertake woodland management."