RESIDENTS are fuming after being told their shrubs and trees should be ripped down if the roads on their Middlewich estate are adopted.

Property developer Wimpey has sent letters to a number of homes on the Kinderton Manor estate saying their established gardens are blocking access to a utility strip, which needs to be grassed before Cheshire County Council will adopt the road network.

But residents are outraged that they could be left footing the bill to remove the plants, left by the original developer McLean Homes.

County councillor Mark Dickson, of Hereford Way, said: "I've heard from a lot of my neighbours who have well-established shrubberies left by the developers but the council has asked for them to be removed. The letter they have had is not very constructive and says the shrubberies need to be grassed or laid with tarmac.

"The residents are also expected to foot costs themselves but these plants were put there by the developers and they make the estate what it is."

Clr Dickson, who has lived on the estate for eight years, met with representatives from Wimpey and the county council yesterday, Tuesday, to discuss the issue.

He said: "I've asked them to come up with choices of what can be achieved - if planting grasses and similar sized plants instead would be helpful. I'm also looking at Wimpey to alleviate the pain for residents who didn't cause the problem in the first place."

A spokesman for Cheshire County Council said: "It's problematic and negotiations are continuing."