hundreds of trees planted in a new wood have withered and died, wasting thousands of pounds of council money.

Canvey Town Council planted 2,500 trees at Tewkes Creek, at a cost of about £10,000.

But the majority of the trees have failed to take root.

The state of the area, christened Creeky Wood by children from Northwick Park Primary School, was discussed at a recent meeting of Canvey Town Council’s environment committee.

Dave Blackwell, vice-chairman of the committee, said two thirds of the trees had died.

It emerged the soil had not been tested before deciding to plant the trees, a mixture of mountain ash, wild cherries and poplars.

Colin MacLean, 39, of Lottem Road, Canvey, said: “It just seems like a case of throwing good money after bad. Surely the town council should have taken advice on soil levels from experts before spending so much on the project?”

Mr MacLean, who is also a Conservative party activist, added: “It’s a worry that, yet again, great promises of progress from the town council have proved unfounded.”

The majority of the first 1,500 trees, planted in March 2008 with a £5,000 grant from Essex County Council, have survived.

A year later another 1,000 trees were planted with about £4,500 of town council cash, but these have been less successful.

Mr Blackwell, who owns a garden centre, said: “We will seriously look at the soil conditions before we plant any more trees and maybe look again at that area to see if we can create something else, rather than trees.

“We employed the same contractors to plant the second lot as the first lot. They obviously didn’t realise the soil was different in the area where they planted the second lot.

“When we look at the condition of the soil we will see if they are planted in rubble. We may have recourse to complain to the contractor.”