CHARITIES could lose thousands of pounds after councillors refused to allow the felling of an oak tree in front of a south Liverpool home.

The dispute revolved around a huge tree which stands outside the house of a recently deceased resident in South Mossley Hill Road, Mossley Hill.

Clarice Plummer, the pensioner who owned the property, died and bequeathed some of the proceeds of the sale of the house to the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust.

Lawyers representing the executors of her will yesterday argued the tree should be felled so the “maximum funds” can be generated.

Properties in the leafy suburban street sell for upwards of £250,000.

But community leaders want it left standing, describing it as “like a beautiful woman” – and Liverpool Council’s planning committee granted a tree preservation order.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the estate told the committee while the tree remains in front of one of the property’s windows, it could limit how much money the family gets for its sale, affecting the amount going to charity.

But Mossley Hill councillor Ron Gould described the tree as “like a beautiful woman” and said it should be preserved in all its glory.