The heavy pruning of olive trees which line St Barbara Bastions in Valletta had to stop yesterday after a number of residents complained about the "appalling clipping".

When contacted, Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier said the council had commissioned the Environmental Landscape Consortium to heavily prune the trees.

"This decision was taken because the olive trees were growing so high that when the easterly winds hit, the branches were banging loudly against residents' louvers," he said.

Dr Borg Olivier said the trees were being pruned in a professional way and had not been damaged. The pruning would actually allow the trees to grow more rapidly.

After the residents complained, the work was stopped and Dr Borg Olivier said he would be discussing the matter to determine whether to proceed.