Two defiant pensioners are prepared to "chain" themselves to tree trunks rather than let them be cut down to make way for housing.

Neighbours Olwen O'Dowd and Margaret Feist are angry five mature trees at Sturry Park, off Woodchurch Crescent in Twydall, will be axed if a council plan to build 20 homes gets the go-ahead.

The local authority-owned land could see the development of up to 20 houses of two and three bedrooms.

Medway Council is also looking at developing new homes in Lynsted Road (five properties), Eastcourt Lane (14 properties). and Brabourne Avenue (four properties).

They say the two birch, two leaf lime, and one bird cherry, were planted by the former Gillingham Council in 1977 as part of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.

During the 1950s the authority built council houses with the proviso they were "garden estates" to include recreation areas, landscaping, and trees.

Olwen, 76, a retired book keeper, of Hawthorne Avenue, said: “Nationally, everyone is talking about saving the environment and here we are talking about chopping down trees.

“The council donated £10,000 to protect green spaces, which was a lot of money in those days.

“Every tree is valuable. Do we have to chain ourselves to every tree in Medway to stop this kind of folly?

“We remember our children and grandchildren playing on the green here.

"Elderly people living here bring out a chair in the summer and sit under the shade.

"We feel quite passionate about this. This proposal needs stopping.”

Her friend Margaret, 80, who remembers the trees being planted, also feels they should remain.

She has lived on the estate since 1962 and brought up her two children there who played on the green.

She said: “I remember the trees being planted for the Jubilee. There were 25 but we lost a lot in the hurricane.

"Trees are very important and it’s all the more important that we keep these ones.”

Mark Breathwick, head of strategic housing at Medway Council, said: “We are committed to continuing to provide affordable housing in Medway and we are exploring a number of potential sites for housing development.

"This proposal forms part of our strategy to meet housing needs in Medway.

“These plans are still in the very early stages and planning applications have not yet been submitted.

"We held community engagement events with local residents last month and their views will be taken into account before plans are progressed further.”

Read more: All the latest news from Medway