WORK to fell two diseased ash trees overlooking a children’s play area was held up for more than an hour yesterday, while a peaceful protest was made.

Jane Markham, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, was spoken to by police officers after stepping over a safety cordon to get close to the trees, in the town’s Oaktree Drive.

Contractors had already felled one of the trees, which were diseased and considered a health and safety hazard by local councillors, by the time Mrs Markham’s protest began.

She stood against the remaining tree, estimated to be up to 200 years old, for more than an hour, preventing the workmen from continuing.

Police were called after Mrs Markham refused to move to allow work to resume.

Paul Law, from Romanby parish council, which decided to cut down the trees after receiving expert advice, said the protest was “unjustified”.

Mrs Markham said she had received her own expert advice that the trees could have been preserved with a course of pruning and other treatment.

Councillor Law said the decision to fell the trees, which stood on a patch of green belt land and close to nearby properties, was taken on health and safety grounds.

He said: “This is an area in which young children play.

“These trees could fall at any moment, potentially killing or injuring a young child.”

Mrs Markham, whose home overlooks the play area, said while she did not wish to see anyone hurt, she was exercising her democratic right to protest.

She said: “I understand that they are going to chop this tree down as soon as I move away. It is about the principle now.”

The protest ended when officers from North Yorkshire Police encouraged Mrs Markham, who was not arrested, to leave.

Work was to fell the second tree then completed.