Locals were angered when the Queen Elizabeth Hospital got the go-ahead in December to fell eight trees to make way for a new sterile services unit.

Now it has emerged two more specimens will have to be removed because their roots have been injured during the work.

Paul Brooks, director of estates and facilities at the QEH, described the incident as "distressing".

West Norfolk Council is now considering "enforcement options", while its tree officer Brian Ogden has warned damaging the trees is "a criminal offence".

An area of land which was dug up close to the trees (Image: Ramm Sanderson) It comes after a developer was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £8,000 by magistrates in April after being prosecuted by the council for damaging the roots of trees bordering a new development at Docking, near Hunstanton.

Mr Ogden says in a report the QEH and its contractor McAvoy had submitted a tree protection plan as part of its application to build the new unit.........

© Eastern Daily Press