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| Dawn tree felling in Sheffield sparks outrage | Dawn tree felling in Sheffield sparks outrage |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Angry scenes erupted when contractors arrived at dawn to fell trees in a long-running neighbourhood row. | |
| Sheffield City Council contractors began cutting down eight trees in Rustlings Road at about 05:00 GMT as part of a street improvement scheme. | |
| Residents had demanded the trees remain. Three people arrested after confrontations with workers were released without charge. | Residents had demanded the trees remain. Three people arrested after confrontations with workers were released without charge. |
| Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg said he was outraged by the council's action. | Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg said he was outraged by the council's action. |
| For more on this story and others in South Yorkshire | For more on this story and others in South Yorkshire |
| Mr Clegg, the Liberal Democrat MP for the area, said the council had acted as if it were running an anti-terrorist operation. | Mr Clegg, the Liberal Democrat MP for the area, said the council had acted as if it were running an anti-terrorist operation. |
| "I do not know what planet these people are on," he said. | "I do not know what planet these people are on," he said. |
| "Arresting elderly residents? Arresting them when they are just trying to say 'don't chop this tree down'?" | "Arresting elderly residents? Arresting them when they are just trying to say 'don't chop this tree down'?" |
| Jenny Hockey, a retired sociology lecturer, was one of those arrested. | Jenny Hockey, a retired sociology lecturer, was one of those arrested. |
| "What can you do in that situation except exercise your right to peaceful protest and that's what we chose to do," the 70-year-old said. | "What can you do in that situation except exercise your right to peaceful protest and that's what we chose to do," the 70-year-old said. |
| "They warned us they would arrest us if we did not move, which is what they did." | "They warned us they would arrest us if we did not move, which is what they did." |
| Mrs Hockey was arrested alongside her friend Freda Brayshaw. | Mrs Hockey was arrested alongside her friend Freda Brayshaw. |
| The retired teacher, 71, said: "It was just like an assault with arc lights, lots of policemen and chainsaws going up and down the road and we had no chance to do anything. | The retired teacher, 71, said: "It was just like an assault with arc lights, lots of policemen and chainsaws going up and down the road and we had no chance to do anything. |
| "They had a kind of barrier, a tape around trees they intended to fell and I stepped inside and stood under a tree." | "They had a kind of barrier, a tape around trees they intended to fell and I stepped inside and stood under a tree." |
| The council said the work needed to be done as part of a £2bn scheme to improve streets and get rid of diseased, damaging or dangerous trees. | The council said the work needed to be done as part of a £2bn scheme to improve streets and get rid of diseased, damaging or dangerous trees. |
| Residents said the trees were healthy and should remain. | Residents said the trees were healthy and should remain. |
| Councillor Bryan Lodge said the work was "essential to ensure Sheffield has healthy trees for future generations". | Councillor Bryan Lodge said the work was "essential to ensure Sheffield has healthy trees for future generations". |
| He said: "We have made a final decision to increase the number of trees on Rustlings Road by almost 30%. | He said: "We have made a final decision to increase the number of trees on Rustlings Road by almost 30%. |
| "We need to replace eight out of the 30 existing trees, but we will plant 17." | "We need to replace eight out of the 30 existing trees, but we will plant 17." |
| He said the work was carried out early in the morning on the advice of the police to ensure it was done safely. | He said the work was carried out early in the morning on the advice of the police to ensure it was done safely. |
| South Yorkshire Police confirmed that 12 officers "provided assistance at the request of the council". | South Yorkshire Police confirmed that 12 officers "provided assistance at the request of the council". |
| In April a High Court judge dismissed a bid for a judicial review into the tree-felling programme. | In April a High Court judge dismissed a bid for a judicial review into the tree-felling programme. |
| Sheffield City Council has felled more than 3,300 trees since 2012. | Sheffield City Council has felled more than 3,300 trees since 2012. |