Ref. 26257-43RETIRED Terry Hayward wanted to create a colourful community garden he and his neighbours could enjoy.

Last month, the 71-year-old former aircraft engineer spent £600 of his own money on seven trees which he planted on the green outside his Park North home.

But now, following complaints from his neighbours, Terry has been told he will probably have to uproot all but three of the trees.

Neighbours say that the golden false acacias and silver and Himalayan birches are preventing their children from playing football on the green, in Greenham Walk, and they have complained to Swindon Council.

Although the Buckhurst Crescent recreation area is only 200 yards away, parents are unhappy about letting their children play out of sight.

Terry started the garden to mark the millennium, planting flowers and two trees.

He added the extra trees last month, and had planned to install a bench and plant more flowers.

He said: "I wanted to create a community area like they have on the continent where neighbours can meet on a summer's evening for a chat.

"The council does nothing to improve the environment on the estate, so I decided to do it myself.

"The children can play football either at the Buckhurst recreation area or in their back gardens, which are about 20 metres long here."

Now Terry is preparing to fight to keep his trees.

He is refusing to remove them, and says he will tie himself to their trunks to prevent council workmen tearing them down.

Terry contacted Swindon Council's parks department before planting the trees, and says he was given verbal approval to go ahead.

But parks officer Martin Buckland said permission was only granted for one extra tree.

Officers visited the site after receiving complaints, and met five residents who wanted the trees removed.

Now the council is carrying out a consultation exercise, and is asking residents to write in with their views.

It is proposing that all but two of the newly planted trees be ripped up.

They say one extra tree can remain to replace a mature ash which will be felled shortly.

The trees planted for the millennium can stay.

Residents have until September 5 to comment, but most said they wanted the trees taken out.

Stephen Hayward, 77, who has lived in Greenham Walk for 28 years, started a petition calling for their removal.

He said out of seven houses he visited, six householders complained.

He said: "He has done this to stop the kids playing football, it's just intolerance.

"In this day and age parents want their children to play where they can see them.

"These children are under nine years old.

"Terry didn't ask anyone, if he did we could have come to some agreement."