It was an act that was said to be in the interests of people who may have been at an immediate safety threat from rotten and hollow trees overlooking a coastal path.

Eastern Daily Press: The removal of the trees has been labelled a chainsaw massacrePicture:Valerie McGeeThe removal of the trees has been labelled a chainsaw massacrePicture:Valerie McGee (Image: Archant)

However the decision by Hopton Holiday Village in removing trees along its boundary has been labelled the great Hopton chainsaw massacre by residents of four homes.

Following consultation with the Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the holiday park removed the trees by Cliff Cottages on a coastal footpath after a survey found they were in a poor condition.

It has led to the residents of the four homes there, who had tended to the trees themselves for decades, complaining to the park, owned by Bourne Leisure, and council about what they called the “Hopton chainsaw massacre” as they say shrubs and a planter full of spring bulbs were also destroyed.

Resident Vilda Steady, 67, said: “There was no reason for well established shrubs, trees, plants and even an oak planter full of spring bulbs to be destroyed.

Eastern Daily Press: The removal of the trees has been labelled a chainsaw massacrePicture:Valerie McGeeThe removal of the trees has been labelled a chainsaw massacrePicture:Valerie McGee (Image: Archant)

“The bedrooms of the cottages are now completely overlooked by the caravans on the camp and the bank is now unstable.”

Jonathan Stratford, general manager at Hopton Holiday Village, said: “The trees in question are on the boundary of the holiday village and are surveyed every two years to assess their health.

“Whilst removing branches to prevent them becoming top heavy, it was found the trees were in very poor condition, either hollow or rotten.

“As this was an immediate safety concern, we consulted the council on the trees’ removal.

“Restoration work is currently being hampered by the weather but we plan to install a wooden fence to protect the privacy of local residents, with saplings and turf also planted to stabilise the bank.

“This work should be completed in the next fortnight, weather permitting.

“As the company has demonstrated on many occasions - not least with our effort to restore Hopton beach – we take our duty to care for the environs of the area very seriously.”

A council statement said: “The trees were overloaded with ivy to the point of being unsafe and Haven was advised the ivy and any dead wood should be removed.”