Thousands of people have signed a petition protesting about plans to cut down mature trees in Worcester.

The county council’s Highways department will start work in January to raise New Road by 38 centimetres (15 inches) just west of Worcester Bridge as the three lane road passes Worcestershire’s cricket ground.

As part of the work seven trees will have to be cut down – five which did stand on the pavement on the cricket ground side of the street have already been felled for safety reasons.

The council’s plans include planting 13 new trees to replace all the ones lost - but inside Cripplegate Park, rather than along the road.

But now, more than 3,300 people have signed an online petition to ‘save’ the trees.

Hosted on the 38degrees.org.uk website the petition says: “We would like Worcestershire County Council to abort plans to fell all the trees along New Road heading towards St Johns, Worcester as part of a flooding defence plan. This plan is not well thought out and raising that part of the road will not stop flooding along Hylton Road or North Parade. Losing these trees will be devastating to the area and they should be protected.

“Trees give a place character and help filter out pollution along that busy road. These trees have been there for almost 100 years and even if replanted will never be as majestic! It will ruin the character of Worcester and will completely change the view from St Johns into Worcester and vice versa.”

County Hall’s cabinet member for Economy and Infrastructure, Councillor Ken Pollock said: “Unfortunately the petition is based on a misunderstanding that all of the trees on New Road need to be cut down and this is not the case.

"The vast majority of the avenue of trees along the road will remain intact and the look and feel of the road, whether approached from the bridge or from St Johns, will continue to be very much as it is now.

"Seven of the 57 trees that line New Road need to be removed in order to raise the road and complete works to reduce the risk of it being closed due to future flooding. 

"Three of these trees are relatively small and in poor condition, while four of the trees are more mature.  

“It is extremely regrettable that the scheme cannot be constructed without the need to remove some trees but the planting of a new avenue of 13 trees in the park help to create a new vista and compensate for the loss.”