Disappointed residents say a shopping centre "looks even more empty" after two trees were felled for "health and safety".

Ashford Borough Council says the silver birches in Park Mall were "identified as a risk" as their roots "caused a trip hazard".

Contractors chopped down the pair early on Monday morning, sparking sadness among shoppers who enjoyed the colour they brought to the closure-hit centre.

Peter Norton, 75, thinks the authority should have instead replaced the uneven tiles at the foot of the trees, which stood between The Little Teapot and KM Media Group office.

"It's always sad to see trees go, they provided some nice shade when it was warm," Mr Norton said.

“Ashford is so developed it's a shame more greenery has gone - it looks so empty there now."

ABC, which is now run by the Ashford Independents and the Green Party, has owned the mall since 2015 and has long held ambitions to convert it into residential.

It said earlier this year how the closure of Wilko, which had occupied the largest unit in the centre, could accelerate its plans.

But no timescale has been put forward and the authority said there was "no update at this time" when asked by KentOnline this week.

Mr Norton's wife, Christine, says she used to work in the centre when it was filled with big-name fashion retailers.

"I was there when you had Next, Dorothy Perkins and Topshop; it used to be lovely but now it is deserted," she said.

"I didn’t even notice the trees were gone to start with, but it does look even more bare."

ABC's deputy leader, Cllr Steve Campkin (Green), says removing the trees was the only option.

"The paving had become a trip hazard so they had to come out,” he said.

“I’m devastated about it, but there was no way the trees would have survived the extraction process to be planted elsewhere.

“It would have been too traumatic, but it was something I asked to be looked into.

“They were silver birch trees so they shouldn't have been there in the first place because they have shallow root systems.”

Minnie Smith, from Bethersden, says the council now needs to add flowers to the centre.

The 72-year-old said: “There are still some cobbles in the town centre with huge gaps, they are just as much a trip hazard.

“There are still planters in Park Mall but they are not the same as trees.

“They should have fixed the tiles and kept the trees.”

Patrick Chapman, of Jemmett Road, shares the same view and hopes the council will plant more trees to make up for the loss.

“Anyone who chops them down should have a real valid reason," the 54-year-old said.

“We need to protect the trees we have got.

“I think they should plant four elsewhere to make up for it.”

As part of last year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, ABC says it committed to planting almost 135,500 trees over a three-year period for the Queen's 'Green Canopy' tree planting initiative.

Cllr Campkin added: "We have the King’s Green Canopy coming up next year which has already started, so we are already planting more trees elsewhere.

"The roots were growing and lifting the tiles in Park Mall, so to fix the tiles you have to remove the roots anyway.

“The trees were planted in the wrong place, they were dehydrated and they were there as ornaments, not living things.

“Trees are living things and they should have been treated better from the outset.”

Commenting on the Kentish Express's Facebook page - KentOnline's sister title - Daniel Tenchio said the trees "were the best thing about Park Mall", while Christine Gyford Ceasar described the felling as "criminal".

In a statement, an ABC spokesman said all tenants of Park Mall were informed of the work in advance.

“Now the felling has been completed, the brick works will be reinstated and the repaved area will be reopened to the public," they added.

In August, ABC closed Park Mall’s car park again after stalactites left slippery patches on the ground and damaged cars.