Jason Ryan was left fuming after workers destroyed 'four or five' mature trees at the spot near his home and the River Meden on 17th July.

Mr Ryan, of Barn Owl Close, claims the area is home to a variety of birds, including tawny owls, kingfishers, chaffinches and robins.

"I have got no complaints about the work they did to get the power on –– they were very quick and efficient," he said. "But I was absolutely fuming when I saw the mess they had made of the trees."

"The level of indiscriminate damage they have done is just crazy –– it was such a lovely little area, like a mini nature reserve."

"I am not normally one to make a fuss, but trees and birds can't defend themselves and someone's got to say something."

Mr Ryan was concerned engineers left the trees obstructing the flow of the River Meaden, believing it could have caused a flood.

"We know the river can flood and leaving a load of trees in it is asking for trouble –– especially if the weather turns," he added.

A Central Networks spokesman said the power cut was caused by a falling tree and admitted engineers would not have checked for nesting birds in the trees or other wildlife. But he said they had to act quickly to restore power to the 914 properties which were affected.

"The decision to remove a couple of other trees was taken so there wasn't any potential of them coming down and causing another power cut," he said.

"It is a trade-off we have to go through. We did not cut the trees down willy-nilly and are well aware of our responsibilities to the environment."

A clear-up of the area began on Friday.

Martyn Saxton, building and development control manager at Mansfield District Council, said: "We are very concerned about these works which, on the face of it, appear to have been excessive, unnecessary and carried out with any consultation with the public or Mansfield District Council.

"We have contacted Central Networks and await their response before deciding on our next course of action."