BATTLING Pymore residents have won a second reprieve for a 100 year-old-tree after confronting workmen when they tried to fell it again on Monday.

Protesters stood beneath the Corsican pine as contractors began cutting it down - forcing them to call a halt.

It is the second time that residents have saved the tree which they claim is an important wildlife habitat - home of several unusual species of birds including goldcrests and an owl.

But they fear their latest victory could be short lived.

The roadside tree was first declared dangerous in 2000. Developers Gladedale Homes said it put residents on its new housing estate at risk and had to come down.

Angry villagers quickly got up a petition and persuaded the district council to intervene. Experts took another look and decided that with some pruning it could be made safe.

This week workmen were ordered back after claims that the tree's roots were now badly damaged and it posed a threat once more.

But they did not count on bird lover Janet Haimes who sat beneath the mighty pine and refused to budge.

Mrs Haimes, who lives on the new Gladedale estate, said: "I believe some people in the drop zone bought their homes on the understanding they would take this tree down so they have been barracking Gladedale to do that. It is said that the roots have been damaged but my view is that it is the builders who damaged them."

Now Mrs Haimes and her fellow protesters have won a stay of execution.

"An expert will come and inspect it and there are going to be discussions between the developers and ourselves," she said. "But in the end I suspect it will have to come down if they prove the roots are damaged.

"The best we can hope for is for a substantial replacement - a fairly mature tree about 15ft high to give the birds some habitation."

The district council's principal area planning officer Simon Ludgate said the tree was leaning at quite an angle and was not worthy of a preservation order. A number of residents had asked for it to come down.

"It has a limited life and is potentially quite dangerous," he said.

But "save the tree" campaigner Marion Palmer, of Pymore Terrace, said: "The developers are more dangerous than the tree because they're wrecking Pymore."

Gladedale Homes were unavailable for comment this week.