A COUNCIL has returned to its roots in an attempt to clear a woodland area.

Darlington Borough Council is using horses to pull felled trees out of the wooded areas on Edinburgh Drive. As part of its on-going woodland management project, the council has arranged for old and dying trees to be removed and replaced with new saplings. A council spokesman said: "Because there are so many trees in the area it is difficult to get the machinery in to remove them. That's why we decided to return to traditional methods and bring in horses. It is part of our on-going woodland management project which aims to maintain the environment for residents."

The horses were put to work for two days this week until all the dead wood had been removed.