A ROW of trees outside homes have been chopped down, leaving residents furious over a lack of prior warning or consultation.

Crews moved in to axe the trees running behind homes on Claremont Crescent in Rayleigh on Saturday morning, leaving behind stumps.

The trees, which had been a prominent feature of the residential road for years, provided a habitat for birds and squirrels, shocked residents have insisted.

Without warning, housing association Sanctuary Housing – responsible for maintaining the trees – took the decision to “trim” the hedgerow, cutting the trees which stood at about 15 feet down to just four-foot stumps.

Resident of three years, Natalie Leeman, says she was shocked to find the trees being felled.

She said: “Now people can see into our houses, I’m going to have to pay out for higher fencing to restore my privacy.

“It’s also a major security issue, because people can just get into our homes much more easily now.

“To do this with no warning, we’re all annoyed. Think about how many people and businesses are going out of their way to plant trees for the environment and they are just chopping them down without our consent.”

Resident Sabeena Webb, who moved into the road eight years ago, says this is the first time she had seen the trees had been cut back to this degree.

The 42-year-old lamented the loss of wildlife habitats saying residents had reported dazed birds flying into their homes.

She said: “They provide security, scenery and a haven for wildlife - blue tits, blue jays, grey doves, starlings and magpies, to name but a few.

“All of Claremont Crescent are incredibly angry there was no consultation period."

A spokesperson for Sanctuary Housing said: “We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously, which is why we arranged for this work to be done during winter months to minimise any impact on nesting birds.

“While we employed contractors to trim back the hedgerow after taking professional advice about concerns raised locally that it had become overgrown and untidy, we sincerely apologise as on this occasion we should have informed residents about the work before it started.”