A COUPLE have won their battle to have an 18-metre tree in their garden felled.

Greg and Suzanne Michael, of Avenue Road, Malvern, lost their original application for the tree to be chopped down despite another tree in their garden writing off their car in storms last year.

Malvern Hills District Council had imposed a temporary tree preservation order but last week backed the couple.

Its southern area planning committee meeting agreed the tree was dangerous due its proximity to the Michael's house.

Mr Michael rejected the argument the tree had any form of community value, which councillors eventually agreed with him on.

The tree sits on two drain pipes.

When the other tree was blown down in storms last year, the fact it was sitting on drain pipes was ruled to be a factor.

Mr Michael said during the meeting: "The tree has caused my family significant trauma and there are no grounds to make this tree preservation order permanent.

"I urge councillors not to confirm the order so that my family can live in safety."

Mr Michael claimed trees caused £60,000 of damage to his house during the storm last year, which damaged their electric gate, wall and wrote off their car.

Councillor Hannah Campbell said: "This tree is one of a number in the area that should not have been allowed to get to this size.

"The potential harm that it could cause overrides any landscape amenities it might have."