SIX lime trees that were in danger of falling have been cut down in New Road, Worcester.

The work has changed the landscape of the road which runs between Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Cripplegate Park.

Cricket club chief executive Mark Newton said: "As you walk along from the Severn Bridge it doesn't make much difference because it's a fairly enclosed road and there's still an avenue of trees.

"Obviously, as you walk further along you can see the tree stumps but I'm sure at some point in the future they will be replaced."

We previously reported six lime trees - four on the Cripplegate Park side of the road, and two on the cricket club side - had to be cut down following a health and safety inspection conducted by an independent arboricultural consultant which found the trees had serious structural defects.

The defects could have caused them to fall down in weather such as high winds or heavy rain.

Worcestershire County Council is responsible for the trees, but the city council agreed to carry out the work on its behalf.

We reported last month the work was scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 19, but was postponed at the last minute after the Worcester News informed the city and county council it would clash with the cricket club's match against Durham.

Mr Newtown said he was grateful to the Worcester News for intervening, and said yesterday's work passed with minimal disruption to his staff and traffic travelling along New Road.

"I can imagine some people will be disappointed the trees have been cut down but I take the practical route," he said. "I know a tree was previously cut down after it nearly caused a bad accident so it is better to be safe than sorry even if it's disappointing."

Last year, we reported how a woman had a lucky escape after strong winds blew a tree down on top of her Ford Escort while she was travelling along New Road.