A RAILWAY embankment has been left looking like a battlefield after Network Rail chopped down dozens of trees, it was claimed today.

Dorchester town and Dorset county councillor Richard Biggs says the embankment on the Dorchester to Bristol line off Bridport Road looks more like a scene from a battlefield than a leafy suburb of the county town.

He says that he has been contacted by people living nearby who say the work has ruined their views of the area and is planning to raise concerns at a meeting of the town council's planning and environment committee on Monday.

But Network Rail said today that the work was essential after trees along the route blew down, blocking the track and narrowly missing a train.

Coun Biggs said: "People have been saying to me 'What's been going on?' "It looks a real mess. It's total devastation. It has stumps of trees poking up from the ground but no trees and no foliage "I have been told that it's for safety reasons but it seems to be more than that. What also concerns me is whether or not they are going to do it to the whole embankment.

"We will be discussing the whole thing at the town council's planning and environment committee on Monday."

One nearby resident, who asked not to be named said she was fuming at the work and said that trees on St Thomas Road had already been removed and work had now started on William's Avenue.

She said: "They have taken very single tree down and they seem to be going all the way along without a thought for the birds, which are on their second nest or the other wildlife that lives there - the habitat has been devastated.

"There is a plateau of about 20feet before the steep dip to the track and all the lovely trees on that will be gone habitat and all. The bank is being totally destabilised too and they will end up with mudslides on the line."

A spokesman for Network Rail said that the work had been carried out for safety reasons.

"It is a chalk embankment with a small layer of soil and unfortunately trees can't really cling on to the embankment.

"During the last bank holiday two trees came down on to the line and a train ploughed into them and a derailment was narrowly avoided.

"We had a similar incident in Sussex where we did have a derailment after a tree came down on the line. This was similar so we have taken the decision to remove the trees for safety reasons because the last thing we want is a derailment.

"We do sympathise with the residents but safety is very important and we had to do it to prevent accidents. We will also be removing the stumps."

The spokesman said that officials from Network Rail were willing to talk to residents and Coun Biggs to explain the reasons behind the work.

She said that they had offered to plant honeysuckle on the fence along the line to cover the work.

West Dorset District Council Principal Planning Officer Simon Ludgate said: "We are aware that some work is being carried out next to the railway track in the Bridport Road area of Dorchester. There are not any trees protected with preservation orders in that area and the landowner has a right to carry out maintenance work."