PENSIONERS claim they are having to live a life of gloom because a belt of trees is blocking out the daylight.

They say the trees planted along the River Kennet in Coopers Meadow opposite their homes in Town Mill cut out much of their light.

Members of Marlborough Town Council, which owns the trees, have turned down a request to have all or some of them removed.

Councillors who considered a letter from four Town Mill residents on Monday took the view that the trees were planted before some of the residents moved in.

In their letter the residents said: "There is a line of 19 trees consisting of alders, poplars and a willow on the edge of the river which cause us to suffer deprivation of light.

"It is frequently necessary for us to use electric lighting in our sitting rooms in daytime even in midsummer."

Members of the recreation and amenities committee considered a report from Kennet tree officer Simon Turner in which he said the trees appeared healthy and stable. He suggested that the trees could be removed in a phased programme and replaced with more appropriate species.

However councillors said the trees should remain. Coun Bill Cavill said: "Those trees have been there for so long. They were there when the residents came. It's a case of caveat emptor (buyer beware)."