TOWN councillors in Marlborough have refused to reconsider their decision not to fell or trim trees that are keeping 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 asked her committee to reconsider the request from Town Mill residents, several of them in their nineties. She said the residents would be happy if just two of the trees, both misshapen specimens, were removed.

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

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