TWO 100-year-old ash trees in Colne have been severely damaged despite one resident asking for them to have Tree Preservation Orders placed on them more than two years ago.

Dr Caroline Palmer, of Woolpack, said she had spoken to Pendle Borough Council on many occasions about putting orders on the trees when a housing development was proposed for the area. But when the development was turned down by councillors, the orders were never made.

But recently she discovered the trees had been set on fire and hacked to pieces. She said: "I was walking my dog when I saw a fire in the field at the top of Daisy Street where the two old ash trees are. When I got closer I saw one of the trees was on fire.

"There were a group of youngsters there who told me they had permission from the landowner. One of the trees had been hacked up and was nearly felled. I was very upset." When Dr Palmer visited the field again the following day, she said two men were sawing away at the tree in front of her. She said: "Everyone appreciates trees and these should have been protected. When Chris Binney saw them he was visibly shocked and told the landowner he had said yes to cutting one branch not the destruction of the tree.

"He told me that both trees were seriously damaged and one would be coppiced. He said he may be able to put a preservation order on them but it's too late for those two trees.

"I feel very let down by the council.and aggrieved by the slow and inadequate response to this situation. Other people living nearby were obviously concerned and upset but were not aware of their rights." Conservation officer Chris Binney has since acquired an emergency preservation order for the tree which was not completely destroyed and for all the other trees in that area, following the line of the footpath.

He said: "We did look at making a preservation order going back two years when the Lenches hillside was up for potential housing development. When it was turned down we didn't continue with it as the orders are made for sites under imminent threat and we targeted our finances to high priority cases.

"This was an unfortunate incident but we cannot be everywhere at the same time.

One of the two ash trees has been cut around its base and will have to be felled but Mr Binney promised to keep an eye on the second which has been given a preservation order.