� A businesswoman protested against the cutting back of trees in her road by using her van to block tree surgeons.

Jacqueline Fearle, of Clockhouse Lane, Collier Row, has previously complained about the extent of the trimming of the lime tree outside her house, saying it has been hacked back.

Tree surgeons sent by Havering Council turned up outside the 46-year-old’s house last week, two years after their last visit – even though experts told her lime trees only need trimming every three to five years.

The mum-of-one took the step of parking her van in front of the tree to prevent it from being cut again.

Mrs Fearle, who owns Perfectionist Cleaning Services, said: “Apparently 30 per cent of the tree has to be cut back, but it’s only just recovered from the last time.

“It’s the first time it’s looked pretty in two years, because it was hacked to the point where just the trunk and a few branches were left.

“It’s just wrong to hack all the greenery around here away.

“We’ve parked our van in front of it so they can’t get to it.”

Mrs Fearle, who is married to Donald, 54, believes the tree should only be lightly trimmed so as to keep the area looking attractive.

She said: “Why destroy the tree? It’s not in anyone’s way. If the tree was diseased I’d understand, but it’s not.”

A Havering Council spokesman said: “Though some trees will look bare immediately after pruning, they will soon grow back beautifully.

“We need to prune trees to remove overhanging and dead branches, to reduce the risk of subsidence and so they grow into a good shape