TREES felled to make way for the new Mersey Gateway bridge have been saved by a charity.

Around 20 young saplings removed from Hallwood Park in Runcorn have been planted in a peace garden at St Paul’s Church in Widnes.

Homeless charity Nighstop Communities Northwest, which provides emergency accommodation for homeless young people aged 16 to 25, asked if they could re-use any of the trees.

Terri Kearney, chief executive of Nightstop Communities Northwest, said: “We are greatly appreciative of the support from Halton Council and Merseylink in making this happen.

“We use the peace garden to support individuals and community groups in mental health, wellbeing and wellness, as well as the wider community, so it's great that partnership working in this way can benefit everyone."

Halton Council Leader, Cllr Rob Polhill, said: "It's good to see that a charity has been able to reuse the trees in this way.

“While some trees do need to be removed to allow construction work to go ahead, many more will be replanted along the project route and in other areas of the borough, so there will be no reduction in the overall number of trees we have in Halton.

Hugh O'Connor, general manager at Merseylink, said: "We are looking for inventive ways to reuse the trees and vegetation that have to be removed as part of our clearance programme.

“So far we have fed wildlife at Knowsley Safari Park and sent chippings to be recycled into chipboard and also turned into biofuel.

“Terri's project is yet another great way for us to manage the clearance in a sustainable way and help the local community too."

Where appropriate, new trees and vegetation will be planted along the project route as part of the Mersey Gateway landscaping scheme.

The Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust is looking to replant an equivalent area of woodland elsewhere in Halton to ensure there is no reduction in the overall number of trees in the area.

Residents who have queries about the tree-felling programme are advised to contact Merseylink on 0333 200 1164 or look at the down your street maps at merseygateway.co.uk.