THIS is the scene described as "absolute devastation" down Worcester's southern link road, with trees as far as the eye can see hacked away to leave an eerie barren landscape.

People in Worcester have spoken of their dismay after the mammoth chopping operation along the A4440 route, which is being part-dualled to ease traffic congestion, left a desert-like trail.

Worcestershire County Council is spending more than £40 million of taxpayers' money overhauling the link, with the stretch from the Ketch island to Whittington roundabout being transformed by mid-2018.

But the biggest roads revamp for a generation is having real consequences, with tree cutters hacking down rafts of them along the busy road, including row upon row in Broomhall Way.

Council chiefs say a massive tree replacement programme will eventually restore the area to its former glories, but it will take years to be fully realised.

Nearby resident Lisa Harrison, 50, of Grasshopper Avenue, said: "I use the road all the time and it's changed beyond recognition these last few weeks.

"I just hope they realise how sad it is, beautiful trees all gone just like that."

Some people have even suggested the engineers may have been too gung-ho in hacking them down.

Councillor Roger Knight, who sits on the city council for St Peter's, said: "I think they've been a little bit ambitious with their chainsaws and it is absolute devastation in terms of losing so many trees, understandably.

"Some of those trees had 50 years growth, it will take years to get it back to what it was - we would have lost even more had it not been for the negotiations by myself and Mike Johnson (his fellow city councillor).

"But everybody is on the same page with this, there is a lot of work to do and I hope we can take the public with us on community planting, not just in the near future but in the years ahead."

Cllr Knight said the county council has commendably raised the bund an extra two metres off the finished road surface along Broomhall Way, giving extra noise protection to homes.

The county council says the fresh tree planting project will be among the most extensive Worcester has seen.

Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: "The trees are being removed along the route of the southern link road improvements prior to the bird nesting season in order to minimise the impact on breeding, but once the surfacing and kerbing work has been completed a comprehensive planting scheme will take place."

Alongside the dualling, the changes include a bigger Norton island, a new left turn from Whittington Road by Junction 7 of the M5 down Crookbarrow Way, and a bridleway bridge.