TO socially-irresponsible minds it might appear amusing that a crime went unseen because a leafy tree was blocking a street closed-circuit TV camera -- above all, when as the subject of an official protection order, the tree stands always to interrupt its view.

But when it is rendered useless in helping to catch the pair who attacked an innocent man so violently that he was knocked unconscious and left with a fractured skull, it is far from funny.

And it is worrying and absurd that the police reveal that this situation in town-centre Accrington applies to other cameras elsewhere. How many and precisely which?, we wonder.

For what is the point of going to the expense and trouble of installing these systems to deter crime and make the streets safer if they are prevented from doing their job?

Everyone likes trees and protection orders to preserve their numbers are to be encouraged. But when lives and safety are jeopardised by them, then common sense priorities must prevail.

If CCTV is required in spots where trees are protected, then careful siting of the cameras must take place so they can be used to optimum advantage.

If this cannot be achieved, then, sad as it may be, the protection orders must be scrapped and the trees lopped or even axed altogether.