A Holmer Green church that caused outrage after a number of “magnificent” 150-year-old trees were cut down on their land has apologised for upsetting residents.

Maurice Lane, who lives in Church Side, near Christ Church, said the trees - which stood over 100ft tall - were chopped down by a team of tree fellers “without consultation or prior notice” on September 16 so the church could make improvements to its car park.

A notice to residents from the church that was put up said that the work would help make way for the “enlarging, resurfacing and repositioning of the car park entrance”, but the plans had angered neighbours.

Mr Lane said the work was “tantamount to wilful destruction” because they were in “perfect condition with no disease or defects” – but the church said the work was necessary.

A spokesman for the church has now released a statement apologising to nearby residents after their concerns were highlighted in the Bucks Free Press last week.

Jillian Moody, from the Diocese of Oxford, said: “We are sorry for any upset the work to the car park has caused our neighbours in Holmer Green, and specifically for the lack of communication concerning notice and information.

“As many people have acknowledged, work has been needed to improve the car park for many years and we hope that by resurfacing and reorganising it, local people will benefit from the improvements.

“There are long term plans for the site which we will aim to make sure our neighbours are fully informed about.”