Angry save-the-trees campaigners were still arguing with forestry manager Nigel Browning as workmen started their chainsaws just yards away.

Felling began more than a fortnight ago, but officials suspended the work when protesters got too close.

The same protesters returned on Monday morning. This time they were met by uniformed police officers deployed at the council's request, while security fences around the trees kept campaigners out.

The felling operation brings an end to months of wrangling over the fate of the 45 beeches, which have lined Gravel Hill in Addington for at least two centuries.

Croydon Council has always maintained the "diseased, dying and dangerous" trees had to go on safety grounds, while residents argued 33 of the 45 should be saved.

The fate of the trees was effectively sealed at a meeting of the full council on April 10 when councillors refused to consider a new independent report on each and every tree under threat.

Protester Brian Coleman said: "It's very sad and I am angry. I feel there's been a terrible injustice, but what can we do? The only thing is to lash ourselves to the trees."

Sheila Lovell, who has lodged a complaint against the council with the local government ombudsman, said: "Croydon Council has lost all credibility and can't be trusted."

She threatened to sit on the tram track nearby if it helped to stop the felling.

Monday morning was not without its hitches, however, as work was halted a number of times in the first few hours.

At one point traffic on Gravel Hill had to be stopped when a branch crashed through fencing and onto the right hand side of the dual carriageway.

A spokesman for Croydon Council said the whole operation was likely to last a fortnight.

"We hope residents will now recognise we cannot afford to put off the inevitable any longer. Police will be on hand to ensure the council's proper and lawful decision can be carried out without endangering anyone," he added.

Some £25,000 has been set aside for an early autumn re-planting programme.