A GROUP of residents in Reedley claim builders have damaged protected trees while constructing a new house.

The complaint came as they objected to an application to remove a planning condition for the development.

Applicant Paddle Ltd was given permission to build a detached house off Sycamore Rise in Brierfield last January.

The firm has now applied to Pendle Council to have a condition removed that states that building materials and waste cannot be stored outside the site.

But residents at a meeting of the council's Brierfield and Reedley Committee said they were already fed up with the amount of waste dumped near their homes.

They argued that the condition had already been breached and removing it would make the situation worse and prevent cars turning around or deliveries.

Resident Andrew Neville said protected trees had also been damaged.

He added: "Most of the time it's just a major inconvenience but at Christmas time with the family visiting it was an absolute nightmare."

He pointed out that the house had been under construction since last February and was still nothing more than part of the building's shell, which would take at least four more years to complete.

He was backed by committee chairman Coun Tonia Barton who asked officers to serve a breach of condition notice, order the applicant to clear up the site and get tree tree officers to check the damage.

Planning officers had recommended refusing the request, saying that there was already sufficient land to provide storage.