The caller, believed to be Black's gardener, told police that the people operating on the trees were aggressive when approached.

"We were called out to ensure there was no breach of the peace while the council turned out to the location," said a spokeswoman for the police force.

The trees were cut back to 20 feet.

Illegal

Black's spokesman said neighbours' concerns about the height of the trees had been taken seriously in the past, resulting in the matter being passed to the council.

He said it was not Black's decision whether the trees could be cut back because any such action required the council's permission.

"All the woods, every single tree, are covered by the tree preservation orders," he said.

One tree is due to be legitimately cut down because it had been assessed and found to be diseased, he added.

The law states that anyone found guilty of cutting, uprooting, lopping, topping or damaging a tree with a preservation order on it is liable to a fine of up to £20,000.

There is also an obligation to plant new trees to replace any which have been cut down.

BBC NEWS.