A WINCHESTER resident has expressed his frustration at the loss of a tree in his neighbourhood after tree surgeons cut down a 40 year old ash tree.

But when tree surgeons came to take down the tree in Hyde Close they were not told that it had a tree preservation order on it.

Professor Nigel Wood had woken up on Friday morning to find Winchester firm C and D Trees were starting to cut down in the Hyde Road area, next to a building designed by the revered British architect Sir John Soane.

“Trees are very scarce in cities, they're huge assets in the city area. This is a particularly old tree, it's the last one left in this road. I've lived here 27 years and I've more or less seen it grow up,” the ceramics professor based at the archaeological sciences department in Winchester University said.

Director of C and D Trees Simon Collins said he had applied to Wincehster City Council to remove the tree six weeks ago and had been given the go-ahead.

“You have to notify them about the work. They said that if they don't come back to you within six weeks you are free to go ahead with it.

“I have spoken to the tree officer [at Winchester City Council] this morning and he said there was no tree order on it,” he said.