RESIDENTS who have seen the felling of more than 20 large trees say they have witnessed environmental vandalism.

A total of 23 mature trees -- including beech, horsechestnut, yew, oak and fir -- have been destroyed at a property on the edge of Jumbles Country Park.

And residents say their Christmas was wrecked after the trees that surrounded their houses were chopped down just before the festive period.

Developers DC Kennedy Homes Ltd submitted plans to Bolton Council to build 16 three-storey town houses on the site.

They want to demolish the existing house and build on the site, as well as on the field next to the house.

A representative of Kennedy Homes visited the site yesterday and later a spokesman for the firm denied it had given the instruction for the trees to be felled. He had no further comment to make.

The property belonged to dentist Eric Doyle, who died last April and left the house to his family. They sold it to the developers.

Dr Ian James, aged 53, of Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, said: "This is environmental vandalism and it is an absolute disgrace. The house was surrounded by beautiful trees and all that stands there now are stumps."

Preservation orders were issued by Bolton Council on three of the remaining trees after a council official visited the site just hours after the felling.

It also put emergency preservation orders on other trees on the edge of the site.

One Higher Shady Lane resident said: "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw three men with chainsaws chopping the trees down and kids running back and forth putting them through a shredding machine. I've never seen anyone work so fast. It completely ruined my Christmas."

Cllr Donald Carr, councillor for Bromley Cross, said: "Every day I've had people ringing me asking what's happened to the house. I've never had anything like this before. There is a sign saying development is going to start on March 1 but the plans haven't even come to the planning committee yet."

Head of Planning Control Howard Barritt said: "The trees which were felled were not protected by a tree preservation order so the action taken by the developer was not in itself illegal. The council has also acted to safeguard the remaining trees on the site that are worthy of protection.

"It is always preferable when developers are preparing planning applications for them not to carry out work which will in some way change the appearance of the site until they have had a decision on any planning application submitted.

"I am sure the planning committee will want to fully understand the chain of events on this site when they consider the matter."

Anyone wanting to comment on the planning application should do so to Bolton Council's planning department at Bolton Town Hall before January 21.