A PENSIONER says he has been waiting more than two years for the council to prune a tree outside his house.

Denton Bell, 72, says the tree on a grass verge outside his home in Lakeside, Darlington, is blocking the light to his bedroom and living room. He fears it also could be damaging his garden wall.

He said: "A young lady from the council came out to see me two years ago and agreed that it should be pruned, but said that it would take quite a while."

Mr Bell waited for two years before deciding to contact the council again. He spoke to councillors and contacted the council's environmental services department.

He said: "They said they would pop round and have a look at it, but I haven't heard from them."

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: "If someone has got a tree and there is a problem with light, we don't prioritise these.

"If a tree is dangerous or it looks like it could fall down, we'll get someone out there and sort it. If it is causing structural damage, that's a different issue and we would go out and have a look at that to see if it is an issue.

"But if we went out every time someone wanted a tree pruning, we would be out all the time pruning trees."