HORRIFIED neighbours saw a mature pear tree uprooted from land behind their Worcester homes this week, despite a recently-imposed preservation order.

Owner Martin Bird, who wants to build houses behind flats at 22-24 Hill Street, off Tallow Hill, said he was unaware of the preservation order on the tree, claimed to be more than a century old.

But neighbours in Hill Street and adjoining Spring Hill said they all knew about it and were distressed to see it torn up with other trees and bushes.

"My daughter was heartbroken and my little grandson was upset to see his mum crying," said Alison Shuker, of Spring Hill.

"I'm absolutely disgusted that anyone could do this."

She said her disabled brother, who died earlier this year, had loved to see the birds and blossom from his bedroom window.

"It's an abomination," said Julia Clark, of Spring Hill, on discovering that the fruit trees screening the length of her back garden had all disappeared. "I've been here 16 years and we've had beautiful cooking apples, plums and hazelnuts from those trees.

"I can't believe it. It was very private here, but now all our privacy has gone."

Michael and Maureen Walton, also of Spring Hill, said they were shocked when they came home from work to find the tree had gone, as was Simon Evans, of Spring Lane.

Removed

A Hill Street resident, who did not wish to be named, said he was furious that it had been removed, spoiling his outlook.

"It was huge and full of leaves. You could hear the wind in the leaves and watch the birds in it," he said.

Another claimed the tree was 102 years old.

Peter Yates, of Worcester City Council's planning department, said he could understand the residents being upset.

"The pear tree was a very nice, mature specimen and we notified the residents of the flats when we served a preservation order in March," he said.

"The city council has the discretion to insist another tree is planted in its place and we will have to take legal advice on whether to prosecute."

Mr Bird, who owns some of the flats, said he sent in a JCB to clear the land, but would not have pulled down the pear tree if he had known about the preservation order.

"It was a very old tree and it was not in the best of health," he said.

Coun Francis Lankester said the piles of trunks and branches were a very sad sight.

"The developer had no agreement over the planning permission because he was told the building of around six houses could be over-development," he said.

"I hope the council is really going to throw the book at him and set an example to show other developers."