Felling of 'beautiful' oaks deferred by council

One campaigner said the trees were 200 years old

The felling of two "majestic" oaks in West Sussex has been deferred by a local authority.

Billingshurst Parish Council voted to postpone cutting down the trees until further information is obtained at a meeting on Wednesday.

Campaigners have said the centuries-old trees have been unfairly implicated in a subsidence claim by Axa Insurance, which could be fixed by other means.

Axa has said felling is the best solution to protect its customer's home, which has been subjected to "serious subsidence" for years due to the trees' roots.

Billingshurst Parish Council, which owns the oaks on Willow Drive, has been contacted for comment.

'Inadequate and outdated'

Campaigner Gabi Barrett told the BBC she was pleased with the vote, adding that so many people attended the meeting there weren't enough chairs.

She said campaigners put forward "strong arguments" that documents supporting felling were "inadequate and outdated".

Evidence was also shown to parish councillors that bats may be roosting in the oaks, Ms Barrett added.

She previously told the BBC the property's subsidence issues could be solved by altering its foundations or installing a root barrier, although she said she believed the trees would be chopped down as it was cheaper.

Independent reports have recommended cutting down the trees, said the insurer

Axa said it had "continued to work with the council to find a solution which protects both our customer's home and considers the concerns of local residents who wish to see the trees preserved".

A spokesperson for the insurer said independent reports had recommended removing them.

"If need be, we will use every tool at our disposal to save the Billingshurst Sisters," said Ms Barrett.

She warned campaigners would take out an injunction if the parish decided to press ahead with felling.

Ms Barrett earlier described the trees as "beautiful" and "majestic", adding that they were much-loved by the community and supported local wildlife.