CONCERNS have been raised over the 'destruction' of a hawthorn hedge and wildlife haven by Devon County Council, which stretches a quarter of a mile along the Tavistock canal path. Roger Shrimpton, who looks out onto the hedge from his home in Daleswood Road, said he was outraged by what he described as 'the chainsaw massacre', which had reduced the hedge to low stumps. But the county council told the Times the hedge had become unruly and a dark alley, posing a risk to people using the footpath. Mr Shrimpton said: 'The hedge ran the full length from Tavistock Primary School along the perimeter of Tavistock College to Crowndale Woods and was a haven for birds. 'Hundreds of birds were coming there to roost. It was a lovely hedge and it is such a shame it has been decimated with chainsaws. 'Our local council is contributing to the demise of our already threatened native bird - the hedge sparrow.' The resident said when he contacted West Devon Borough Council, which was one of the consultees, he was told it had been removed as a deterrent to vandalism at the college. 'Surely it is up the police to deal with vandals,' he said. 'Getting rid of a beautiful hedge like this a poor substitute for policing. 'If vandals continue to conceal themselves behind hedges and trees, would it be the policy to remove all floral and fauna from Tavistock where unsavoury characters congregate?' Local resident Nick Tingle called the cutting back of the hedge a 'senseless act of hooliganism' 'Inside the classroom the children are being taught about environmental issues and are encouraged to behave responsibly. 'The view from the school windows must confirm the view of many young people that the older generation are not to be taken seriously,' he said. A spokesman for Devon County Council said the hedge roots had not been dug up and the bank had been left as undisturbed as practicably possible: 'We and Tavistock College were concerned with the height and bulk that the hedge had grown to.  'It had become unruly; it had barbed brambles that hung over the path at eye level and was obscuring the street lighting.  In parts, the path had become like a dark alley, posing a risk for people using the footpath.  In short, the hedge needed taking in hand.' He said following advice from arboricultural contractors it was decided the best course of action was to cut the hedge down and layer the regrowth to form a new hedge that was manageable and safer. Winter time was a good time to do this work, before the spring and the main bird nesting season. Tavistock College principal Colin Eaves said there were concerns about the safety on the path because the hedge was overgrown. He said: 'Something needed to be done; it was getting unmanageable. 'I'm not a hedge expert, but it needed to be cleaned up and tidied.' Mr Eaves did say he was not expecting to see what he did after half term. 'But it will grow back, and I suspect it will do so as a better hedge such that we can keep it in better shape and not let it get overgrown and shadow the path again.'