Thorpe St Andrew folks are today celebrating as a troublesome tree is finally receiving well-overdue maintenance.

Teresa Snelling, 77, and her 80-year-old husband Keith moved to their St Williams Way home, which backs on to Margetson Avenue, five years ago from Rockland St Mary.

Since their arrival, a pesky sycamore has been wreaking havoc, dropping leaves into their garden and on to the nearby pavement, making it slippery for people walking in wet weather.

Frustrated that workman from Norfolk Highways had not come to safely pollard the tree - which should happen every four years - the couple were inspired by neighbour Pamela Beer of Margetson Avenue.

She first approached the Evening News' We'll Sort It' campaign earlier this year to successfully hurry work along on a similar tree - a neighbouring sycamore - outside her home.

And now a month later, Mr and Mrs Snelling's wishes have come true - as maintenance on the tree by two workmen on a ladder started under the fall of snow and hail.

Mrs Snelling was informed that the delay to the work had been due to storms Eunice and Franklin.

"It's been fascinating to watch how they do it," Teresa said. "But I'm also fascinated as to why it's taken them so long.

"I feel safer now it's being sorted. And it will make a lot of difference to our garden.

Norwich Evening News: Norfolk Highways team have been spotted up a ladder maintaining the tree in Margetson AvenueNorfolk Highways team have been spotted up a ladder maintaining the tree in Margetson Avenue (Image: Teresa and Keith Snelling)

"There are a lot of people - older people especially, like us - who worry about how slippery that path gets when the leaves come down because they're so huge.

"When it gets wet and the leaves stick together. They're a real hazard.

"You don't want to have to go out and walk along the road, we have some speed merchants around here.

Norwich Evening News: The tree in Margetson Avenue is coming down following intervention from the Evening NewsThe tree in Margetson Avenue is coming down following intervention from the Evening News (Image: Pamela Beer)

Highways manager Chris Alston said on behalf of Norwich County Council, which operates Norfolk Highways: “After an inspection of the trees in Margetson Avenue by an arboricultural officer, re-pollarding or examination of trees using ultrasonic devices is under way.

"Trees found with significant basal decay will be replaced, otherwise pollarding will recommence.”

Have you got a problem and could do with our help? Email eleanor.pringle@archant.co.uk.