WIRRAL residents railing over the felling of trackside trees fear their properties could be under threat from floodwater previously soaked up by the tree roots.

The leylandii, planted 30 years ago at the top of a steep embankment behind Kinross Road, Wallasey, have been deemed “potentially hazardous” by Network Rail.

But residents, who are campaigning against the felling, because of loss of privacy and an increase in noise from passing trains, claim the network have failed to provide any proof of hazards.

Tracy Hitchmough whose garden backs on to the embankment, said: "We are noticing increased amount of time elapses before the water drains away as it is no longer being absorbed by the trees.

"If they fail to replace the trees with alternative vegetation we will be left with excessive amounts of water no longer being absorbed naturally.

"We have to ask – ‘where will the water go.’

"Some people have water on the surface of their gardens for days on end."

Residents are angry that Network Rail refuse to acknowledge that the trees were paid for by the original Kinross Road householders, despite proof being offered.

Tracy said: "These trees were planted approximately 30 years ago with the railway agreeing to maintain the trees if the residents paid for them to be planted."

She said felling operations had resulted in one tree falling across the railway track – just after a train had left Wallasey Village Station for New Brighton.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "No-one has complained to us about problems of water flooding gardens as a result of the removal of trees."

He said trackside work had been suspended until the end of the bird-nesting season in the autumn.

He added: "The work has been suspended temporarily and will continue in September."