A row has broken out in Bristol after trees bordering a nearby Tesco supermarket were cut down.

Some residents have campaigned for years for the line of poplars near Homemead Drive, Brislington, to be felled, complaining they block light into their homes and are a health and safety hazard.

The 50ft trees, which were on land belonging to Tesco, were chopped down this week. Saplings will be replanted in October to replace them.

But other neighbours say they are furious that they have lost their privacy.

They say light from the Tesco store, in Callington Road, streams in through their windows 24 hours a day and that shoppers can see into their homes.

Neil Bowden, whose property on Homemead Drive backs on to the trees and the supermarket behind, said: "It is like living next door to Crystal Palace all the time.

"They have got a new facade on the store and it is very bright. The Tesco sign shines right into my room.

"I have a blind on the back bedroom window but it is like daylight in there at night.

"There is a problem of light pollution, and it will be worse with the trees down.

"Tesco has changed the road layout in the car park, and from my lounge I can now see every car and every headlight. It is murder."

Mr Bowden, 50, a Rolls Royce engineer, is also worried about noise now the tree barrier is gone.

He said: "It is not only the light, it is going to be noisy as well, as the Tesco garage is 24 hours.

"Tesco is supposed to be a green company but they have stirred up a real hornets' nest here.

"I don't even know why they have chopped them down. I went up to ask, and they said that someone has a court action against them about the trees.

"Well, I am not a fan of losing them, and will be writing to Tesco to complain."

But Philip Collins, 40, an HGV driver who also lives in Homemead Drive, is delighted the trees have been chopped down after he campaigned for five years for their removal.

Mr Collins said the trees blocked light into his home and were a health hazard.

He said: "The trees were too tall, so there was no natural light getting in to my house. There was no need for them to be that high.

"My 80-year-old mother is stuck in the house, and it is not good for her. She is on anti-depressant tablets because of it.

"I had to have my lights on all the time, in winter and summer, so when are Tesco and Bristol City Council going to pay my bill?"

Mr Collins said the roots from the trees were also breaking up a nearby path, and wet leaves made it slipperys.

He said: "Those people who are complaining about losing the trees aren't directly affected.

"They might look lovely, but it is no good when you can't see because you don't have any light, when you have to sweep leaves up all year long and can't walk around safely."

Other residents supported the felling of the trees on safety grounds.

Jack Baker, 21, a motorcycle mechanic, who lives in nearby Hulse Road, said: "The way I see it you have the car park lights, which make it safer for people to walk along the path.

"There have been a few people mugged on that path because it is dark, and it is going to be a lot better with the trees down because there will be more light."

But another protester was horrified at their loss, calling it "bully-boy tactics" by Tesco in its disregard for the environment.

Kathleen Hicks said: "These trees have been there for well over 50 years, to my knowledge. I believe this is sheer vandalism that Tesco should cut down perfectly healthy trees without consulting the local residents."

Tesco regional corporate affairs manager Melanie Chiswell said residents were invited to several meetings to discuss the plans with the police and the city council.

The supermarket hopes to transfer the land to the city council's ownership, and says a condition of transfer was taking the trees down and repairing a nearby path that was damaged by roots, which cost about £100,000.

She said: "We feel the land would be better managed by the council than us.

"For us to transfer it, the council has asked us to tidy it up, level off the path and cut down the trees. We have also been told by a tree expert that the trees needed to be cut down, and that they had reached their ultimate height.

Ms Chiswell added that Tesco had received formal complaints about the trees blocking light and problems with the path, and that it had consulted the council and decided to fell them on health and safety grounds.

She added: "I am not aware of anyone objecting to this. However, it is very difficult when you have some residents complaining and others wanting to keep them.

"You can't please everyone but I would be interested in hearing from any residents who do have concerns."

Council spokeswoman Helen Hewitt said: "Bristol City Council doesn't own the land. It is Tesco land, and we understand they are removing the trees to improve the footpath and create a cycle path.

"The land is not in a conservation area, and the trees do not have a preservation order on them."

"It is not our land, so we do not make decisions about what happens on it."