TRIUMPH turned to despair as residents who successfully fought to save some mature trees in their cul-de-sac saw them ripped from the ground in a development error.

All that is left of the five mature trees that lined the opening of Valley Road in Northallerton, are gaping holes and upturned soil, provoking fury among the locals.

Only a few months ago they won their battle with developers, Yuill Homes, to save three of the five trees as a scheme for 75 homes to be built on nearby land was approved by Hambleton District Council.

But despite strict planning conditions, workers from J Hugh's Construction, subcontracted by Yuill, last Tuesday destroyed all of the rowan and oriental cherry trees.

Michelle Smales, a resident, said: "I'm absolutely shocked and disgusted that this can happen. We planted those trees and nurtured them to make our cul-de-sac look smart for us and our children.

"We successfully fought to save them and now they are destroyed. The developers must have just thought 'stuff them.'"

Nigel Bell, land director at Yuill Homes, initially said all the trees were removed to meet Highways standards concerning visibility at road junctions. However, he later admitted that it was an unfortunate mistake.

"We are seeking the earliest possible meeting with the planners to reinstate similar trees, redressing the situation and alleviating the concerns of residents," he said.

Hambleton's planning enforcement officer Alan Kendall said the problem would be quite easily rectified. "The council will insist that Yuill replaces the trees that have been lost with some other mature trees."

Ironically when the council set the planning conditions back in May, officers who had visited the site praised the Valley Road residents for the way they maintained the landscape and gardens.

Katja Tolonen-Wilkinson, of Valley Road, said: "This makes a mockery of the planning committee procedure if mistakes can happen this easily.

"We felt quite triumphant back in May but seeing all those wonderful trees in a heap almost makes me feel we lost the fight.