A householder alleged to have chopped down more than 20 mature trees in a conservation area of Bradford is to be prosecuted.

Bradford Council is taking legal action against Abdul Aziz, who is claimed to have removed the 150-year-old trees from the gardens of numbers 7 and 9 Park Drive in May.

A Council spokesman said: "The Council has authorised prosecution proceedings to be instigated regarding trees felled at the property in Heaton."

Meanwhile, householders in Heaton are pressing for a "tree watch" scheme which would enable residents to contact Council officials out of office to report any unauthorised destruction of trees.

The plan came under discussion at a special meeting of Heaton Neighbourhood Forum and follows a number of instances where householders are claimed to have cut down trees without permission.

The Council's Bradford West co-ordinator Mohammed Taj, who chaired the meeting, said other moves were likely following a spate of incidents in which planning regulations were allegedly flouted and unauthorised building work undertaken.

He added: "One idea is to produce a leaflet to inform Heaton residents about planning issues and tree preservation orders.

"The Council is planning a consultation later this year regarding the Heaton Conservation Area."

A packed meeting at St Bede's Grammar School, attended by more than 100 people, also heard about longer term plans to produce a "design statement" for the Heaton area.

Heaton Conservative Councillor Mohammad Masood said: "There's a lot of concern about building without planning permission or departing from the permission given and people don't want this behaviour to be repeated."

Heaton Councillor David Ford (Green) said he felt many constructive developments were now taking place.

"The meeting did generate a positive feeling that residents, councillors, Council officers and local associations can work together," he said.

"I'm satisfied that things are progressing at the moment."