Angry residents fear the value of their homes will tumble this week now that more than 100 trees behind their gardens have been earmarked for the chop.

The trees, which are on the grounds of St John Fisher School, line the gap between the railway and the school at the back of the houses on Northumberland Road and are being felled this week due to train company Metronet voicing concerns about their height.

But homeowners are furious they were not consulted and say they only found out because it was publicised in an end of term school newsletter.

Alan Morohan, who lives on Northumberland Road, said: "These trees have been there for more than 30 years and have never been deemed dangerous before. In any case, if they have become too high then Harrow Council should have done something about it before now, they could have lopped them.

"The whole point however is that we haven't been consulted at all, in fact we had to read about it in a school newsletter."

The 48-year-old also added that he and his neighbours were concerned the move might affect house prices, because the trees provided an attractive backdrop to the properties, reduced noise and helped block the view of an electricity pylon and the school buildings.

He said: "All those benefits will disappear and now we are going to be left with the view of an unsightly pylon, which is likely to decrease the value of our homes."

A spokesman for the council said the move was a necessary one, taken in the interest of a long-term solution. He said: "Metroline approached St John Fisher requesting the hedge be reduced to four metres in height for safety reasons. This reduction or similar would destroy the appearance of the trees since they do not regenerate from old wood and most of the screening is produced from the top half of the hedge.

"As a result we suggested the best option for the long term would be to remove it and replace them with something more suitable, and the school has agreed to this option.

"It is planned that replanting with a variety of hedge species will take place over the autumn."