TREES have sprung up across a Middlewich green where children used to enjoy playing football.

Families living in Davenham Way and Kestrel Close were mystified to find swathes of saplings planted all over the open space in front of their homes, leaving children with nowhere to play.

Andrea Brudy, whose twin nine-year-old sons William and James have only just been allowed to play on the green, said she was worried about their safety.

"Cars go down that road quite fast and we're worried about the boys going out anyway," she said. "Now children have already started kicking a ball across the road but there's nowhere else for them to go - the estate on the other side of Warmingham Lane has a swings area."

Andrea and her family have lived in Davenham Way for seven years and said children - and even their parents - regularly played football and cricket there until the trees were planted last Tuesday.

Yesterday Congleton Borough Council said it had planted the trees deliberately to stop games after complaints from other residents over the past three years.

Gareth Edwards, the borough council's grounds and cleansing manager, said: "We have received consistent complaints from several residents on Kestrel Close regarding teenagers damaging cars and property during large scale kick-abouts' on the open space in front of the houses. Despite visits from the police and the community wardens the situation did not improve.

"Having investigated potential solutions and consulted those residents affected by the problem, we felt that further action had to be taken."

The council has over planted the area as it expects a number of the trees to die back before autumn.

gbebbington@guardiangrp.co.uk