A stand-off over the future of trees near Port Meadow in Oxford is continuing today.

The city council has decided not to continue pollarding the willows on land adjacent to Cripley Meadow Allotments today, but refused to rule out carrying out further work at a later date.

Protester Mike Hamblett, 57, had scaled one of the trees on Tuesday and Wednesday to stop workers pruning it. He said the area should be left untouched to protect existing wildlife.

The council is carrying out the maintenance work for the allotment association, which plans to create a community orchard on the land.

It said the area would become even more wildlife-friendly in the future and the pollarding — cutting back of the willows to promote new growth — was needed to stop damage to the riverbank.

Mr Hamblett, of Harpes Road, North Oxford, vowed to restart his protest if the council worker come back.