The mystery of who cut two trees down – and left just stumps behind – has been solved.

South Hams District Council has admitted giving the two false acacia trees next to the bus shelter in Coronation Road, the chop.

The council says that one of the 20ft high trees was dead and had to go, while the other was also on its way out.

But it has promised that it has plans to replace them.

The felling of the two prominent trees provoked anger and bemusement after residents discovered just the two stumps remaining.

One angry resident Tony Dale wrote to the council, demanding to know why the trees had been cut down and asking why they had not been replaced.

He also said: "Can you also look into why the stumps have been left at three foot. They are an absolute eyesore and deeply upsetting to see."

A council spokesman said: "The decision was taken to fell the two false acacia trees at the bottom of Coronation Road in Totnes, as one of them was dead and the other in serious decline.

"The stumps have been left at an obvious height to avoid potential trip hazards in a busy public area; however these stumps will eventually be removed and our intention is to replace them in discussion with Devon County Council during the next tree planting season."

Last May, the same two trees were in the spotlight when residents complained that metal cages placed around the trees when they were saplings needed to be removed because the trees had grown so much they were being damaged.

Within days of the report appearing in the Totnes Times, the metal cages had gone.

However, less than a year later so have the trees.