Pears trees deemed a health hazard are saved from the chop

Towering pear trees that faced being chopped down after their fruit caused havoc for north London residents have been saved.

Council bosses wanted to fell them on health and safety grounds after pears fell on people's heads and dented parked cars, and passers-by slipped on mulched fruit.

But a group of residents in St John's Villas, Archway, launched a campaign to protect the seven trees, which are more than 30 years old. They even offered to pay for the fruit to be harvested themselves.

The council relented and paid a team of contractors to collect the pears, which were given away. Using ladders and harnesses, the workers climbed the 30ft trees and plucked thousands of the fruit.

Resident Jane Howard, a retired university lecturer, said: "People turned up with shopping bags to collect free pears — it was absolutely wonderful."