Investigation continues into arrests as Sheffield tree felling works resume

Protesters gathered on Thornsett Road, in Nether Edge, to gather against the removal of street tress as part of Sheffield Council's £2.2 billion Streets Ahead contract with Amey.

South Yorkshire Police said the trio - including one campaigner who scaled a tree - have all been released pending further enquiries.

A force spokeswoman said the tree 'was on private property and not due to be felled but the reason the man was arrested was because he climbed above the safety zone'.

A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a section 4 public order offence - using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour.

A second man and a woman were also arrested, they added, on suspicion of obstructing a person acting in the execution of the Highways Act 1980.

The tree-felling programme was put on hold last month following clashes between protesters and workers on Meersbrook Park Road, where there were several arrests and, according to Amey, a security worker ended up with a broken wrist.

Campaigners said they 'regretted' police having to step up resources but pledged to continue to demonstrate.

The council says the trees being felled and replaced are diseased, dying, damaging roads, pavements and properties or causing an obstruction.

But campaigners argue that many healthy trees could be saved using engineering solutions.

Workers will resume tree replacement works on Thornsett Road today.