Residents and councillors slammed the unexpected removal of ten Norwegian Maple trees from one side of the highway, known locally as 'The Avenue', between the A6 Bowden Hall and the A624 Ferodo roundabouts.

One resident even described the move as "wanton vandalism".

The trees, which were planted as part of a landscaping scheme when the A6 bypass was first built back in 1987, bordered an area of land which is currently being redeveloped.

Cllr Mike Smith, Chairman of Chapel-en-le-Frith Regeneration Partnership, said: "This is a gateway to the town, and when we are trying to regenerate towns, gateways are very important.

"People are very upset that this avenue approach to the town is being destroyed. People feel very strongly about this, as am I, and we are all very concerned.

"The irony is that High Peak Borough Council are about to rename the road Foresters Way, but in the next breath it gets deforested."

Cllr Smith said, as far as he was aware, no planning application had been approved which allowed for the removal of the trees.

"The damage has now been done, but the least that can be done is a replacement avenue of mature trees to repair what has already been lost," he said.

The redevelopment taking place at the site will create a pub and space for industrial units.

In a statement, High Peak Borough Council, the planning authority, said officers were investigating the matter, adding: "The trees are within the highway and appear to have been removed in connection with works approved by the Highways Authority."

Derbyshire County Council, which is the highways authority, has denied it is responsible.