Five long-standing high street trees destined for the chop will no longer be felled, it has been confirmed.

Canterbury City Council had long been planning to uproot the mature trees dotted between Fenwick and Metro Bank.

Bosses wanted to chop them down in favour of a £1.2 million makeover for the high street.

However, following legal difficulties involving landowner Kent County Council and a huge public backlash, the authority has completed a dramatic u-turn.

All five trees will now remain and an additional one will be planted, while a previously approved proposal to replace them with an avenue of 14 trees has been ditched.

The council ratified the new proposal at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Labour councillor Pip Hazelton, one of the main campaigners against the original plan, said: “It’s fantastic news and a massive relief.

"We were expecting it to be signed off but until the cabinet meeting, nothing was definite.

"This news will be universally welcomed. It’s a victory for everybody.”