RESIDENTS who have dug in to protect trees on their doorstep are to have their day in court.

The Trees and Wildlife Action Group's (Twag) bid to protect up to 12 acres of woodland in Newbottle, near Houghton-le-Spring, will be heard at the High Court in London, later this month.

Backed by conservation campaigners Friends of the Earth, Twag has twice obtained injunctions at the court to prevent what it claims is the potential destruction of up to 7,000 trees in Newbottle Wood.

It is part of a site earmarked for development of up to 20 football pitches, with associated buildings and a car park, by Durham Estates, on behalf of thousands of young players in the Russell Foster Youth Leagues.

The scheme, previously approved by Sunderland City Council, and with the promise of grant aid for youth football development, was put on hold after the first injunction.

Twag members claim no environmental impact assessment was made before planning permission was granted.

Chairman Paul Bennett said it has received widespread support following the eleventh hour action last June.

"The response we've received for our campaign has been 'tree-mendous'.

"Thousands of supporters from all over the UK have backed us, vocally and financially.

"We've been telling Sunderland City Council and the Forestry Commission since September 2005, that the people of Newbottle will not sit back and watch the 7,000 trees vanish before our eyes. And, we've convinced a High Court judge on two previous occasions of the merits of our case."

Mr Bennett said it was "uncanny" that the date of the third hearing falls on the anniversary of the initial High Court injunction.

"There could well be some poetic justice in this hearing date," he added.

Friends of the Earth's head of legal matters, Phil Michaels, who is representing the group, said: "This forest represents an important green space for wildlife and a resource for the local community.

"A project such as this should never have been allowed to proceed without a comprehensive environmental assessment."

South Shields-based Durham Estates, which has planning approval and the backing of the Football Foundation for the project, has not commented ahead of the court hearing, on June 29.