Gardens are being overshadowed by huge trees in a nearby park that have been left untouched for decades.

Residents in High Park Avenue and Lark Hill in Hangleton, Brighton, say they are unable to bask in the sun because Brighton and Hove City Council has failed to prune trees in Hangleton Park.

The sycamore trees have been left untended for up to 25 years, according to residents, and their branches encroach metres into backyards.

David Smart, 70, of High Park Avenue, filled more than a dozen 80-litre bags with leaves from his garden last autumn and other neighbours spend hours on their hands and knees removing the debris.

Mr Smart said at the height of summer his garden was covered by shadows for much of the day.

He said: "We were told the work would happen last year but the pollarding keeps on being put back.

"The garden is absolutely full of roots and leaves. I was planning to put up a summer house at the end of the garden but we are waiting for work to be done on the trees.

"On the longest days of the year, the whole garden is in shadow during the evening."

Neighbour Christine Hogarth said she had spent thousands of pounds on her garden but was unable to enjoy it because of the trees.

She said: "It is really terrible in lots of different ways.

"In summer, the trees block out the sunlight and light in our gardens, making it cold and gloomy in the evenings when I should be able to enjoy sitting out in the garden.

"In autumn, we have to collect vast amounts of leaves, which is a nuisance.

"I've had to buy a leaf vac specifically for this problem.

"I have found tree roots 25 feet into my garden, which take most of the water and nutrients out of the soil.

"Right now, the sycamore seeds are springing up all over the garden."

The council's park team wrote to residents last June saying it planned to cut the branches but this has not been followed up.

Dawn Barnett, city councillor for Hangleton, said: "Residents have paid their council tax and the work should be done.

"I have been asking the council to prune the trees for two years and now they are saying they are short of staff."

A council spokesman was unavailable for comment.

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