RESIDENTS were shocked to suddenly find workmen cutting down trees behind their homes.

The arborists working for Southern Water were called in to fell the towering specimens at the company's facility behind Nevill Road in Hove.

Those living near the site said the measure to get rid of them was "drastic" but the water company said removing them was necessary to carry out urgent works.

Lucy Mudie, who lives in Nevill Road, was one of several home-owners to be left aghast as chainsaws were set in motion on Thursday.

She said: "It's a bit of a shock. It's a very drastic measure.

"If they are gone we will just see houses. It's such a shame for the trees.

"It's completely going to affect the view outside the back of our houses, it will be completely destroyed."

Miss Mudie claims no one in Nevill Road was made aware of the work yet Southern Water said it contact people it "identified as being directly affected".

Miss Mudie added: "They said it's going on until April but none of us have been given any warning.

"We just feel we are not being listened to."

Other residents felt that if more attention had been paid to root growth the trees could have been spared.

A Southern Water spokeswoman said: “We have been carrying out urgent work at our site on the west side of Woodland Drive. Part of this includes the removal of trees along the site perimeter as the roots are encroaching and causing damage to the structure.

“As a statutory undertaker Southern Water has a legal exemption allowing the trees to be removed to prevent any damage to the operational site and ensure we can maintain a constant service to our customers.

“The tree roots will be left to maintain the stability of the earth embankment at the side of the site until a permanent solution is designed to support the bank.

“We will also look at what planting options we have available to improve site screening without risking further damage to the structure."

On the issue of contacting residents, she added: “We contacted residents in the surrounding area who we identified as being directly affected by our works on site.

“Our staff went door-to-door to explain why we are carrying out these vital works and we also sent 60 letters to residents in the area.

“However, we value customer feedback and apologise to those people who feel they have not received enough information.

“We have, and will continue to liaise with residents in the surrounding area, our environmental consultants and the local council.”