Residents of a Haworth street fear that action is being taken to develop green belt land at the rear of their houses.

Work has been going on to improve access to fields at the rear of Branwell Drive, Mytholmes, and trees have been felled despite a wrangle over ownership.

The work has been carried out on the land -- which separates Haworth from Oakworth -- since it recently changed ownership.

Resident Ralph Badham said it was vital the land remained green belt to provide a buffer zone between the two villages.

He said: "If developers have their way there will be a conurbation stretching from Oxenhope to Keighley. Already you can't tell where Keighley ends and Oakworth starts.

"Much effort is being made to promote Bront Country, but what is the point of Bront Country without the country?"

Resident Steve Littlewood is concerned that trees have been felled on the land by Colin Preece who he says bought the land last year.

Mr Littlewood said that under common law an area of land on which trees have been felled actually belonged to him.

He said: "There is an area of land about eight and a half feet long which covers the width of my garden, from my dry stone wall up to a stock control fence, which I believe belongs to me under common law. I have lived here since 1983 and so for the last 19 years I have been the sole user of the land and have maintained it myself at my own expense.

"Under common law, because I have been the sole user and maintained the land for 12 years, it belongs to me under adverse possession and I made Mr Preece aware of this.

"But he has still gone ahead and felled trees on the land.

"My neighbours and I are very upset about this. About 30 trees have been felled and they were mature sycamores. They must have been about 30 years old and attracted a lot of wildlife.

"There were squirrels and a lot of birds that used the trees. One of my neighbours was left in tears when the trees were felled.

"My main fear is that we are supposed to be encouraging green belt land and encouraging the planting and sustaining of trees, but it is such a loss for them to be destroyed like this.

"It seems to me that action has been taken to destroy this area with scant regard for the wildlife or for the law."

Mr Littlewood has contacted the police and is considering taking further legal action.

Mr Preece was not available to talk to the Keighley News and did not wish to comment.