Leylandii rage has taken root in Bingley.

The fast-growing hedges have been the source of many a suburban row across the country.

But instead of campaigning to have the hedge lining their cul-de-sac removed, residents in Oakridge Court are furious part of it has been cut down.

The row of leylandii trees shield part of Oakridge Court from Wingfield Nursing Home and building work to erect a new two-storey extension which will create 17 extra bedrooms.

A condition of the planning permission, granted in 1998, said the conifers should be maintained at a minimum of 5m.

But residents in Oakridge Court were furious when a gap of about 10m appeared in the hedge.

Resident Peter Hutchinson said: "We must be the only close in the country that wants a leylandii putting back up instead of pulling down.

"It's now a real eyesore for the people living opposite but my main concern is that they've breached the planning conditions.''

Anne Selka, who lives opposite the gap, said: "All you could see before was trees - it was lovely and I must be one of the few people in Britain who actually like leylandii.

"We bought the house for privacy and although they've put up a fence covered in sacking you can see right through it - there's no privacy and it looks terrible.''

Another resident, Fred Shears, said: "They've said they'll put the hedge back afterwards but that will be months.''

Nursing home owner Dr Ageeb Gonheim declined to comment.

But extension architect Malcolm Bayliss said once construction work had started the trees' root system was found to be very shallow, adding: "The consensus of opinion was that they were unsafe and could have fallen into the cut we were digging or the road."

He said it was "unfortunate'' they had to remove part of the hedge but said they intended complying with conditions by replacing it once the building work was done next spring.

A Bradford Council spokesman said a condition attached to the planning approval had stated trees edging the site should be retained but if any were damaged during building works they should be replaced.