CAMPAIGNERS objecting to the large numbers of trees which have been cut down on a former golf course have tied ribbons around some of those still earmarked for removal.

Many Darlington residents have expressed their anger and upset at the dozens – possibly hundreds –of trees which were cut down on the former Blackwell golf course last week to make way for a 59-home development.

And yesterday the remaining trees which are planned to be cut down had ribbons tied round them and campaign posters stuck to them to highlight the issue.

While Darlington borough council leader, Labour's Bill Dixon, confirmed this week that there was planning permission in place for all the trees, some residents claimed they were not being given answers about whether tree protection orders were in place.

Conservative Cllr Heather Scott, whose ward covers Blackwell, said earlier this week that many of the trees were diseased.

Now local resident Clive Rickaby has written to the council asking for which trees were protected and wanting official figures about how many trees were diseased.

He said in the latest report there were supposed to be 91 trees felled – but he believes more than 170 have been.

"As you can appreciate the people of Darlington are sickened and very upset with what you have allowed to happen and they need answers," he said.

The council received £663,000 from developer Story Homes, Cllr Dixon said, which will help with the move of the cattle mart and also fund social housing at Neasham Road.

Avenues of trees on the site and along Carmel Road have gone, after contractors were brought in to cut many of them down.

Local residents described the site as looking like a hurricane or tornado had hit last week.

Campaigners are trying to involve tree surgeons and experts, as well as gathering together the tree protection orders for the site, in a bid to protect any remaining trees there.

While locals said they knew the building was going to happen and some trees would go, they had not realised the full extent of the felling that would take place.