Two 7ft trees have been cut down by a council in a quiet cul-de-sac following a single complaint by one neighbour - to the fury of residents.
Bristol City Council took down the enormous cypress trees despite a sit-in protest and a campaign by local families.
Locals mocked the Anti-Social Behaviour Order which was granted, and classified the trees as "hedges".
The trees have sat in Horfield in Bristol for 50 years, and were popular with kids and wildlife, including squirrels and birds.
Yet Bristol City Council gave them a felling notice, which has been pinned to one of the trees, deeming them a "nuisance".
They have now been chopped down.
According to locals, the complaint was made by one person, who said they blocked their light.
Speaking when the trees were served notice, a Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "The action being taken is not a matter of council policy.
"But it is to ensure compliance with national legislation, which designates this type of tree as a hedge.
"We are responding to a complaint about the hedge, in line with the legislation, and have reviewed the options available to us.
"Reducing these trees to the necessary size would leave them unlikely to survive and removing and replanting the tree has been agreed as the best option.
"We have received a number of comments from local residents supporting this approach.
“We’re also investigating and offering further tree-planting spots to bring us closer to our aim of doubling the city’s tree canopy by 2046.’’
One resident said: ''It's bonkers. Everybody is really sad about it."
"It's a real shame, because those trees have been there since the early 1970s, at the same time as the estate was built.''
