No more memorial trees are to be chopped down in Putney Vale Cemetery after Wandsworth Council decided to backtrack on last month's decision to remove them all.

Last month the Wandsworth Guardian reported on the plight of Bill Turner, 64, whose beloved memorial cypress tree, dedicated to parents Bill and Kathleen, was hacked down about six weeks ago.

Having grown to above six foot tall, the council decided to remove it and several others.

A furious Mr Turner contacted the news room to complain but was told unceremoniously by the local authority that it stood by its decision.

However, when asked whether they were rolling out the policy across all its cemeteries, the council suddenly reversed its decision and said no more trees would be felled.

A council spokesman confirmed: "We have no plans to remove any other trees from the cemetery."

Mr Turner has now demanded the council dig up the roots of his parents' cypress tree and pay for a new one to be planted.

He said: "What they did was completely disgusting.

"People don't go to a cemetery for a laugh, they go there to pay their respects to loved ones. "If they had only chopped down five, it won't have cost them much. Certainly less than if they had chopped them all down.

"They have saved money so I would like the roots taken up and a new planted, at their expense. It would probably only cost £10.

"I will make such a stink if they do not do that for me because I'm now even more annoyed because I feel I have been singled out.

"Quite honestly I don't want my parents buried there but hopefully someone with some more compassion will be running it soon."