RESIDENTS of a suburb in Consett are angry because a council has agreed that five 100-year-old beech trees can be felled.

Derwenside District Council has authorised the removal of the trees in Birch Grove because they are causing subsidence to a nearby extended property on Caribees, Delves Lane.

The owner's insurers warned the council it could face a £70,000 compensation claim if it maintained a tree preservation order on five of the 11 trees that were directly affecting the structure of the house.

But residents said the council was responsible and should not have granted planning permission for the extension in the first place.

John Frost, of Birch Grove, said: "The council gave permission to build within six metres of the trees when it shouldn't be within 17 metres. The council is trying to take the easy way out by removing the trees.

"This is the only bit of green land in the whole of Delves Lane and it is a lovely outlook.

"It is sacrilege to cut these trees down."

Derwentside District Council has maintained a tree preservation order on six of the trees.

A spokesman said: "While the trees undoubtedly have high visual amenity value, five of them are causing damage to a property.

"Had we refused, the owner would have been entitled to compensation."

Notices have been put on the trees and they have been earmarked for removal once relevant legal processes have been explored.