A FATHER claims that branches on a tree growing close to his garden need pruning, otherwise he fears they will fall and injure his two children.

Andy Franks, of Chilton, has concerns about a tree growing 20 metres from his house on land owned by social housing provider livin.

The fork lift driver at Thorn, in Spennymoor, fears a branch could fall onto his children Freya, seven, and Riley, two.

Mr Franks and his wife Melissa have spoken to livin about the issue but he is unhappy that they will not be cut back.

He said: “I don’t want to see the tree cut down but I’d like to see the branches cut back. No-one has been hit yet, but it’s a question of waiting for it to happen.

“If one of them fell and it hit a child it could cause serious damage and it's blocking light. I haven’t taken legal advice, but I could do.”

He plans to speak to Councillor Christine Potts, county councillor for Chilton, about the issue.

Colin Kingshott, livin’s head of property services, said: “The safety and well-being of our tenants and local residents is paramount.

“We carry out surveys on our trees every four years to ensure that they are in a good condition and safe.

“This tree has had a second inspection carried out as a result of Mr Franks contacting us.

“Both inspections have deemed the tree safe, with no trimming or alternation necessary.”