A criminal investigation has been launched after an area of woodland was cleared by National Grid contractors, destroying the habitat of protected wildlife.

The work in Day Valley, part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Bredhurst, was carried out to clear trees and vegetation away from electricity pylons.

But locals claim too much has been cut back and at the wrong time of year, killing birds and adders.

Vanessa Jones, chairman for the Bredhurst Woodland Action Group, described the area, which measures about a third of an acre, as “completely flattened”.

She said: “It looks like a nuclear attack.

"The work is usually done every 18 months but in previous years the cutting back was much more sympathetic to the environment - similar to coppicing and, to my knowledge, has never been carried out so late in the season while birds are nesting.

“The landowners were contacted three months ago and they understood the work would happen shortly afterwards. They were of the impression that it was coppicing to be carried out and not the total devastation that has been left.”

Mrs Jones added: “What is particularly upsetting is that nightingales have been heard in the exact spot which has now been stripped of vegetation. We also had numerous reptiles and other wildlife which were thriving in this area.

“The area destroyed had, until now, been one of the most prolific bird sites in Bredhurst Woods.

"Our bird expert told me that without doubt, birds and their young would have been killed.

"In addition to the damage caused to the bird life, dead adders have been found. I found one cut in half.”

It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to kill protected species of animals.

Police have launched an investigation and taken away some of the damaged bird nests to establish if they were from this season.

BWAG group trustees have met with National Grid who said they are conducting their own investigation “as a matter of urgency”.

A spokesman added: “We take these concerns very seriously. We are also commissioning an independent ecologist to assist with our investigation.”