TREES planted in Wyre Forest during the 1920s have been felled to enable a newer generation to thrive.

Thirty-nine Douglas firs - known as the Woodland Giants - were cut down over four days by experts from Dorset.

One of them, Ray Sillence, at 73, was almost the same age as the trees he took his chainsaw to, along with Ted Applin.

Mr Sillence will have been tree felling for 60 years next year, having started at 14.

The felling was part of the Forestry Commission's ongoing conservation management of the forest, said forester, Richard Boles.

"We manage the area for continuous cover," he explained, adding that removing the older trees would enable new ones to grow from seeds.

The felling is carried out every two or three years.

The tallest tree cut down between Monday and Thursday last week was 160ft.

The biggest pieces of timber chopped down will go into construction, while the smaller pieces will be used for joinery.