TOWN councillors in Marlborough have refused to reconsider their decision not to fell or trim trees that are keeping natural light from old people's homes.

On Monday Coun Peggy Dow, chairman of the town council recreation and amenities committee, asked members to think again over a request from home owners at Town Mill to have a row of trees reduced in height.

The poplar and willow trees line the opposite bank of the River Kennet from the Town Mill homes.

Residents have photographs showing that when the homes were built the trees were newly planted saplings.

Coun Dow said the evidence that the trees were only saplings when the homes were first occupied put a different outlook on the subject.

She asked her committee to reconsider the request from Town Mill residents, several of them aged in their 90s.

Coun Dow said the residents would be happy if just two of the trees, both of them mis-shapen specimens, were removed.

Coun Peter Cossey said: "Most of the people there would like to see all the trees taken down."

Coun Bill Cavill took the view that people buying the homes should have realised that the saplings would grow into mature trees.

"It's a lovely avenue and to remove even two of the trees would spoil its appearance," said Coun Cavill.

It was agreed to take no action and to leave the trees untouched.