MATURE sycamore trees which residents fought a hard battle to protect have finally been razed to the ground.

Around 20 trees by the railway track in Butterow Hill, Bowbridge were about to be cut down in April by sub-contractors Tilhill on behalf of Network Rail.

However, they were granted a reprieve when furious residents contacted the SNJ and local councillors in an effort to save them.

Despite being in a conservation area, the trees were on land owned by Network Rail, which has a statutory right to remove any object that is a threat to health and safety.

But residents were concerned that cutting down the trees in the middle of the nesting season would be disastrous for wildlife.

Network Rail agreed to wait until August, when the nesting season was over.

Campaigners hoped the company would consider crown reduction, which involves retaining part of the trees while cutting back hazardous branches.

But environmentalists, business groups and Stroud District Council were disappointed to learn the trees had been completely removed at the end of August.

"It would appear that they are going for the cheapest possible option and hacking them off at ground level," said Mike Lawrence, secretary for the Stroud branch of the Federation of Small Businesses.

"One of our main concerns is attracting more industry and we feel these trees being cut down gives an awful impression of the place as you come in from the A419."

District councillor Martin Whiteside (Green, Thrupp) said: "What they have done is destroy a natural habitat and increase noise because there is nothing to absorb it now."

David Hagg, chief executive of the district council, said: "We will be talking to Network Rail about their future communications as this has been a matter of community concern. "