A PAIR of Poole residents who cut back a protected cedar tree near Poole Park have been fined £1,500 each.

Poole Magistrates Court heard neighbours Gareth Williams-Gardner, 44, and David Evans, 39, "wilfully damaged" the mature tree sited in the former's garden in Twemlow Avenue, which runs alongside the boating lake.

In a prosecution brought by Borough of Poole, both admitted to contravening a tree preservation order (TPO), and as well as the fine were ordered to pay £400 costs each.

Andy Osborne, the council's senior arboriculturist, said: "This was a significant tree making a positive contribution to the street scene of Twemlow Avenue.

"The resulting unauthorised works have diminished the value of the tree within the public realm.

"The fines reflect the seriousness the courts take of these offences.

"There are established procedures for obtaining consent to work on TPO trees and the council will, in such circumstances, prosecute when these processes are ignored."

Councillor Ian Potter, cabinet member for planning, said the borough would have "no hesitation" in seeking prosecution against "those individuals who seek to damage or destroy trees".

"This conviction clearly demonstrates the council’s commitment to protecting Poole’s environment," he said.

The borough is also seeking residents’ help to get to the bottom of tree works recently carried out upon a mature protected Oak tree in Frankland Crescent.

Anyone with information should contact Andy Dearing on 01202 633316 or email a.dearing@poole.gov.uk in confidence.