PEOPLE living near a housing development in Worcester say nesting birds have been disturbed by the removal of trees.

Kath Creese said contractors building 103 houses on the former Wescol factory site in Brickfields Road, have felled a row of trees as part of the development, upsetting birds.

But the developers say they have gone to great efforts to save slow worms on the site and encourage other forms of wildlife.

Mrs Creese said the trees had been there for five or six years.

"The birds have been going frantic," said the 55-year-old, of nearby Gamekeepers Drive.

"They have been just flying off in a panic. The birds are not going to return - they are going to be terrified. Really, the trees should have been cut down in the winter, where there's no danger of nesting birds."

Neighbour Marlene Payne said the site was a haven for wildlife.

"There's hardly any trees left, just lots of bushes," said the 60-year-old.

"I'm just so cross. I think it's terrible because those birds were really distressed.

"They were just flying off everywhere."

Kier Partnership Homes is developing the site, in conjunction with West Mercia Housing Group.

Spokesman Simon Wingate said: "Kier Partnership Homes has sought and received all relevant approvals from Worcester City Council prior to the commencement of any tree surgery or groundwork operations on the Brickfields Road development.

"We are committed to the protection of wildlife on all of our development sites.

"At the Brickfields Road development we are currently undertaking an extensive slow worm removal programme which has resulted in the capture and relocation of more than 125 slow worms.

"Along with the protection of endangered reptiles on the development, we are also working towards gaining an eco homes very good' accreditation for the site in question.

"To achieve this rating we are carrying out extensive landscaping works which include the introduction of wildlife attracting trees and plants, the planting of 70 new trees and the introduction of more than 50 bat, bird and ladybird boxes on the development."

The city council confirmed a tree officer had visited the site on Friday and was satisfied that at the time of the inspection there had been no breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.