FURIOUS villagers say two important trees were felled hours after applications were made for tree preservation orders.

And they claim the move was to pave the way for an unpopular planning scheme.

Last Tuesday, Craven District councillors rejected a proposed development at Rockwood, on Thornton-in-Craven's Cam Lane. The applicant wanted to demolish the bungalow and build two homes on the site.

But the plans attracted nine letters of objection, including one from the parish council, and the scheme also proved unpopular with children at the village's primary school, who sent in their own letter.

At last week's meeting, parish councillor Marjorie Lord cited numerous concerns.

She said the proposed homes did not fit in with those already there and the traffic was bad enough already, and the extra cars and construction vehicles would add to the problems.

Councillors went against officer recommendation and voted to refuse the plans and also decided to apply for tree preservation orders on two silver birches, which were standing in the grounds of the cottage.

However, several angry residents say that the two trees were "reduced to matchwood" by 9am the following morning - before the TPOs could be applied.

A neighbour of Rockwood, on Cam Lane, who declined to be named for professional reasons, claimed that the council was "helpless" to stop the 60-foot trees being cut down, even though they were, theoretically, in line for protected status He said: "Craven District Council planning officers were contacted at 8.50am and I was told that there was nothing that could be done with regard to the trees as inquiries over the trees and the TPOs had not yet taken place.

"The residents of Cam Lane are furious at the loss of these two beautiful birch trees and are very worried that such a cavalier attitude should be shown."

Coun Lord told the Herald this week: "At the meeting, a councillor asked about a TPO being put on immediately and the next morning someone had cut them down.

"The meeting supported the TPOs and asked to look into it as a matter of urgency. I was quite horrified and very upset when I heard about it."

Meanwhile, children at Thornton-in-Craven Primary School used the issue to explore ideas about the environment and their surroundings.

Headteacher Karen Hawkins said that, as a teaching resource, pupils were given the chance to have a look at the proposal and make up their own minds.

Most came to the conclusion that they did not support the application and used the exercise to practise writing letters of objection.

She said: "The children didn't want anyone overlooking them while playing - they thought it was a privacy issue - and they were also worried about the loss of habitat for animals with the trees."

A spokesman for Craven District Council confirmed that a request for TPOs had been made but said applications took time to process.

He added that as the orders were not in place, the owners of Rockwood were free to fell the silver birches.

The Herald has been unable to contact the applicants.