RAIL chiefs have come under fire from a town's MP for felling track-side trees.

Darlington MP Alan Milburn is to ask Network Rail to replace the trees that the company has felled behind homes in Wederly Close.

People living there say the trees formed a screen which reduced noise from passing trains and gave them privacy.

Now they say noise levels are horrendous and train passengers can see into their homes.

A spokeswoman for Mr Milburn said residents had written to him about the problem.

"We are going to take it up with Network Rail and ask them what they are going to do about it.

"They can't put the trees back, but we would like to ask Network Rail what they are going to do to put something there as a substitute. Obviously the residents need something there."

Network Rail has told residents the trees were removed for safety reasons, because vandals were building dens in the branches.

Eileen Taylor, whose home overlooks the line, said there was no way dens could have been built in the sycamore trees which were felled.

"The track which is heavily used was nowhere near the trees," she said.

"We think they may have got the wrong ones. It was heartbreaking to see them come down."

Neighbour Ty Hankinson said: "I couldn't believe they just chopped them down. I am now angry and frustrated that they are not doing anything about it," he said.

Mark Carroll said: "As far as we are concerned it is a cost- cutting exercise. Network Rail does not want the maintenance bill of trimming trees, so they have cut them down."

A Network Rail spokesman said the correct trees were felled, adding: "We won't be planting any more. We are in the process of erecting security fencing."