A YORK man spoke today of his anger after a "mini wildlife haven" was chopped down outside his house - despite assurances he claimed to have from the council that it would remain.

Neil Rogers, of Cameron Grove, said he was twice told the hawthorn tree, on council land near to his home, would not be felled.

But when he went out on Saturday he returned home to find council workers chopping the tree down.

He said: "The council wanted to chop it down and I wrote in and said I wanted it to stay.

"I had an assurance from the council that it would stay back in 2001."

Mr Rogers said last spring he stopped an attempt by the council to chop the tree down and believed it was now safe.

He said the tree, which he thinks could have been about 70 years old, was a wildlife haven for thrushes and black birds.

He said: "I am in a situation now where my garden is overlooked. Now that tree is gone my garden is considerably more public.

"I have had two assurances from the council that it would not be chopped down and now it has been.

"The council knew I wanted the tree to remain and they are doing what they want. I cannot replace the tree."

Mr Rogers said he was told part of the tree was rotten, but said it could have been pruned to prolong its life.

But the council said the tree was rotten and had to be chopped down to ensure safety in the area.

Its executive member for leisure and heritage, Coun Keith Orrell, said: "I understand this tree was rotten inside.

"It is always sad when a beautiful tree reaches the end of its life, but safety considerations dictate that in these circumstances they have to be felled."

Updated: 09:16 Wednesday, March 17, 2004