Three people protesting against a controversial tree felling programme have been arrested after council contractors started cutting down trees with chainsaws before dawn.
Campaigners have condemned Sheffield City Council for going ahead with their "improvement" works in Rustlings Road, Sheffield, from around 5am this morning.
Members of Sheffield Tree Action Groups (STAG) claimed residents were woken up at 2am to move their cars.
In a statement Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said he stood by the decision to do the "vital" maintenance work.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed 12 officers "provided assistance at the request of the council".
