The council advised Network Rail to remove elm trees from the site

The residents of Addison Road and Highdown Road in Hove have criticised Network Rail for chopping down trees which grow on the cutting.

But the firm said it only removed trees when there was a clear safety reason.

The section of railway was so steep that any falling tree or branch could cause a serious accident, it added.

Disease problem

The homes are about 100ft (31m) above the track, and the residents have submitted a petition to Brighton and Hove City Council hoping it will intervene.

Home owner Bob Potter said: "We're wanting a firm commitment from the council that they will do anything in their power to stop any more tree cutting taking place until there has been a full and proper independent investigation into the state of these trees."

But a spokeswoman for the council said it did not have the power to intervene because the trees were on private land.

She also said many of the felled trees were elm and were afflicted with Dutch elm disease.

'No powers'

"We advised Network Rail to remove them as soon as possible. We also asked them to fell the remaining elms to ensure infection was entirely stamped out.

"We hold the national elm collection of elm trees... if you don't act quickly the disease can spread."

She said Network Rail also decided to remove some other types of trees at the same time.