Council workers have come under fire for chopping down a group of popular trees that are more than 30 years old.

The Leylandii trees in Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield, are more than 30ft high and dominate the road.

But on Tuesday workers from East Sussex County Council felled ten of the 20 trees, telling residents they had to come down because they had not been cared for properly and were dangerous.

Jane Maskell and her husband Jeffrey have lived in Sheepsetting Lane for 12 years.

Mrs Maskell said when they first moved into their house the trees were cut back but nothing had been done to them since.

She said: “These trees are now some 30ft high and dominate the lane. They provide both an attractive backdrop to the utilitarian buildings of the community centre and Cross-in-Hand primary school.”

Mrs Maskell said residents in the lane have faced months of upheaval and building work with the extension of the school, traffic calming measures, bollards, dust, noise and smoke.

She said: “A once pleasant semi-rural lane has been vandalised by the council all for the benefit of the school and not at any time considering the needs of the residents of Sheepsetting Lane. Now they have achieved the ultimate in creating an ugly wasteland of cheap Tarmac, wire fences and railings.”

Yesterday workers returned to fell the rest of the trees.

An East Sussex County Council spokeswoman said the trees were on land in Cross in Hand primary school’s grounds.

She said: “A long time ago someone planted a hedge which grew into mature trees. Lots of big branches have been falling off into the playing field and on to the pavement, which is dangerous.

“The bottom half of the trees are also dead, which is why we have removed them.”