Residents of a leafy Oxford street staged a very genteel protest tea party to prevent an ancient oak tree being felled.

Neighbours on Lathbury Road enjoyed a tray of tea and biscuits sitting on garden chairs on the pavement while stopping contractors starting work.

Resident Harriet Green, who was the boss of Thomas Cook, had applied to Oxford City Council to take down the tree because it was causing subsidence to her home.

But her neighbours and other protesters were determined to stop the tree from being chopped down.

Virginia Allport, of the Canaries, a branch of Extinction Rebellion, said the protest was “a delicious event”.

She said: “These trees on these ancient plots enhance the beauty of Oxford. Oxfordshire has a diminishing lot of greenery. Any tree that is endangered is a real loss.

She said Extinction Rebellion were called in to help the neighbours to provide a constant presence on the pavement underneath the tree.

They also occupied two parking bays which had been reserved to accommodate the tree surgeons’ equipment.

She said: “There were seven people on the site at 7.30am and the contractors arrived at 8.15am with their cherry picker parked right outside and the chipper van.

“They cut off all the limbs overlooking the garden but they could not do over the road as we kept watch. We had a rota of neighbours and Extinction Rebellion from 7.30am to 2.30pm.

“We had a lovely tea party. The neighbours brought out tea and the most delicious cookies and we all had a very jolly party.

“The contractors gave up at 2.30pm.

“It was terrifying watching half the tree being cut down. It’s not just Nimbyism they all care passionately about the tree.”

Ms Green and her husband Graham Clarkson had successfully taken Oxford City Council to court to have a tree preservation order on the old oak lifted.

Oxford Mail:

Extinction Rebellion said it was concerned about the felling of the tree and had lodged a complaint with the CEO of Oxford City Council Caroline Green “because the consent to fell was given without any sufficient data from the applicant”.

But a spokesperson for the council said: “Oxford City Council received an application from the occupant to fell this tree.

“The application was supported by a number of technical assessments to evidence the need for removal. The application was reviewed by officers and granted after following a process of assessment. The applicant will plant a suitable replacement.”

Mr Clarkson was approached for comment.