LOCAL residents have expressed their anger at the felling of trees in an ancient hedgerow alongside fields and a footpath off Four Mills Lane in Crediton.

“Ancient habitats have been destroyed by the brutal felling of the trees which border a similarly ancient footpath,” said one local resident.

He continued: “This is not the first time that the tenant of the land has felled trees on this site.

“Bird and wildlife habitats have been decimated and a large amount of felled branches have just been left behind.

“We have reported it to the authorities.”

Several complaints about the work have been received at the “Crediton Courier”.

Rupert Geering, of Carter Geering, on behalf of the Symes Trust, the landowners, said: “The Tenant did not ask permission, nor was permission granted for the felling of the trees.

“The matter is now in the hands of the Trust’s legal advisors, and the local authority’s enforcement team and we therefore cannot comment any further than this.”

• See more images of the area where trees have been felled in the current issue of the Crediton Courier, on sale now!