COUNCIL chiefs have defended their decision to chop down trees on one of Keighley’s busiest main streets.

They say the trees felled to make way for new paving on historic North Street were old and in very poor condition.

But campaign group BANDAG member Barbara Archer said: "Is there an intention to make the town centre sterile and unattractive to any living creature other than people?”

A Bradford Council spokesman said the areas of North Street where the trees were felled were within the Keighley Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) area.

Council and lottery cash is being used to bring buildings in the THI area back to their Victorian and Edwardian glory.

The council spokesman said: "These stretches of pavement are being laid in stone flags and only the trees that were old and in very poor condition were felled as part of the project.

“Healthy trees have been retained and will be incorporated into the paving scheme."