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

Gaping holes and upturned soil are all that remains of the five mature rowan and oriental cherry trees that once lined the opening of Valley Road, in Northallerton.

Residents, who only a few months ago won their battle with developers Yuill Homes to save three of the five trees, are now furious.

Despite the strict planning conditions, workers from J Hugh's Construction, subcontracted by Yuill, destroyed all of the trees.

"I'm absolutely shocked and disgusted that this can happen," said Michelle Smales.

"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'."

Yesterday, Nigel Bell, land director at Yuill Homes, said that it was an unfortunate mistake made at site level.

"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 District Council'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," he said.

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

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

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