Businessman Edward Layton could not watch his television clearly for the trees outside his home - so he took a chainsaw to them.

But his plan to get a better picture cost him a £700 fine when he appeared at Bradford magistrates for cutting down and damaging trees in protected woodland near his Thackley home.

Layton, 60, of Windhill Old Road, was spotted using a chainsaw by a planning enforcement officer from Bradford Council last June and was later charged with bringing down a total of nine trees.

Today he said: "I was shocked with the fine but I did something wrong and I know not to do it again.

"I wasn't aware there was a tree-preservation order but I suppose I should have checked.

"All my neighbours have the same problem."

Earlier the court heard how the case had been an "acute embarrassment'' to Layton who wished he had never embarked upon the "operation.''

His solicitor John Hall said Layton, who runs Layton Auto Services in Bradford, had asked the Council to cut down the trees several months earlier and was given a quote of £400.

The trees impeded the TV signal and had caused problems with leaves, damp and stained paint work, spoiling the enjoyment of Layton's home, said Mr Hall.

Prosecuting, Jack Henriques said the land in the area between Brackendale Parade and Windhill Old Road had been protected by a tree-preservation order since 1995.

Layton pleaded guilty to three charges of cutting trees without permission and one of wilfully damaging a total of 19 other trees without permission.

Martin Hall, 36, of Kingsley Avenue, Bradford, admitted giving Layton a helping hand as a gesture. He was fined £350 after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the offences.

Both were ordered to pay £978 costs between them.

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