AN angry Kidderminster resident is "absolutely livid" that trees opposite her house have been chopped down due to safety concerns.

Sally Smith, of Emperor Place, said she was shocked when she returned home from work to find willow trees had been felled in Springfield Park opposite the Waterside Grange estate.

They had been removed by Wyre Forest District Council, which owns the land, on Wednesday, December 21.

The 48-year-old said: "They have taken loads out. If they had told us we would have complained. We are right opposite it. It is really upsetting.

"There were owls, squirrels, birds and all sorts of wildlife. Where are they going to go now?"

Along with several neighbours, Mrs Smith last week met council officers, who explained the trees had been removed due to safety concerns.

She said: "Their reasons may be completely valid but I just think it is excessive.

"It is not just the willow trees. There were lots of smaller trees, bushes and shrubs that they have taken out. It doesn't look as nice as it used to."

Her neighbour, Gary Darlington, 44, said: "I moved in six months ago and there was a lovely look-out. I feel it has been taken away from us now."

Nick Lewis, spokesman for the district council, said: "The recent removal of some trees in Springfield Park has come about as a result of a recent incident where a tree fell across the path and into the Stack Pool.

"Due to the size of the fallen tree, the council had to clear an area through the wood to be able to extract it safely from where it was lying.

"While on site, tree officers carried out a risk assessment and safety inspection for all the trees in the wood. They found that a number were in an extremely dangerous condition and a potential risk to the health and safety of visitors walking through the wood and to users of the adjacent canal.

"Some of the trees were suffering from rotting bases and root systems.

"Others had already been partially blown over and were being supported by neighbouring trees.

"The area has been added to the tree replacement programme and will be replanted with native varieties of trees and shrubs over the winter months.

"This will help to encourage the native wildlife to flourish over the coming years," he added.