CONTROVERSIAL flood defence work along a canal near Kidderminster town centre has been blasted by a walker.

Hundreds of trees along one side of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal between Wolverley Court and the Lime Kiln bridge, near Sainsbury's, have been felled as part of an Environment Agency scheme designed to prevent flooding in the town centre.

Tony Lamb, of Fulmar Crescent, Kidderminster, learnt of the scheme when he walked along the canal last week. He said: "You used to be able to walk from the town centre and within 250 yards you were in the countryside with trees on both sides.

"But now it's gone. Hundreds of trees have been chopped down and are being replaced by a big embankment."

Mr Lamb said he contacted the Environment Agency, which has publicised the proposals through exhibitions and leaflets, and was told he was the only person to complain.

Under the scheme, the culvert where Blakedown Brook passes underneath is being replaced and trees cleared to allow for the creation of embankments.

It is hoped storing floodwater there will provide a boost for Puxton and Stourvale marshes, both sites of special scientific interest, which are drying out at present.

The scheme, which has prompted fears it could lead to flooding in Wolverley, is supported by English Nature and Wyre Forest District Council.

But Mr Lamb said: "I can't believe it. I know this work is being carried out to stop flooding but they've chopped everything down 20 to 30 yards from the canal."

He questioned whether all of the trees needed to be removed and said the canalside was also littered with oildrums.

The canal towpath has been closed until recently due to foot and mouth disease fears and to allow developers Castlemore Securities to carry out the flood defence work.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency added the environmental implications of the flood defence scheme had been carefully considered but all the trees which had been felled, needed to be cut down, to allow construction of the flood defences.