AN MP has condemned work that ripped up woodland without warning.

Rebecca Harris, Tory MP for Castle Point, said it was “staggering” the woodland was destroyed in a day.

Workers, believed to have been hired by the owners of the site, have been removing trees from land in Catherine Road since last weekend.

The move has sparked anger among residents, who claim the site has been designated as ancient woodland by the council, and the work could be illegal.

Workers were ordered off the woodland by police last Monday as part of an ongoing investigation. Officers arrived at about 4.30pm and called a halt to work while they carry out checks on whether the workers had the relevant permission.

Rebecca Harris, Tory MP for Castle Point, has been inundated with complaints.

She said: “It was my first chance to see it and it’s just staggering to see how centuries of woodland have been destroyed in a day.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called to a location in Catherine Road, where some building work has been carried out.

“Concerns were raised over badger setts and we requested that operatives stop work, while clarification is sought over relevant licences and whether safeguards were carried out.”