PEOPLE living on Clevedon's riverbank says they are being left to live in the dark because of towering trees overshadowing their homes. Residents in

PEOPLE living on Clevedon's riverbank says they are being left to live in the dark because of towering trees overshadowing their homes.Residents in Longacre are asking the Environment Agency, which own the riverbank at the rear of their properties, to reduce the height of the 100ft pines because they block out the sun from their homes.Resident Doreen Jones (pictured above), who has lived at Longacre for nine years, said: "During the winter it could be a beautiful sunny day - but we wouldn't know. The trees are so high that in the winter months when the sun is lower, they completely block out any light."I have to put my lights on during the day because the house is so dark. It also means I have to put my heating on more often because the house is not warmed by the sun."This is not good, especially at a time when people are trying to reduce their carbon footprint as a result of global warming."Mrs Jones, who is also a town councillor, has collected scores of signatures on a petition calling for the size of the trees, which were planted in 1985, to be reduced.Mrs Jones said: "We have been pressing for action for months and months but have not had any real action. All we are getting is excuse after excuse."It is a nightmare as the gardens are always damp and we cannot enjoy our own homes properly."But not everyone wants to see the trees cut back and a site visit is now being organised so councillors can take a closer look at the problem. North Somerset Council, Clevedon Town Council and Clevedon Civic Society will all be asked to put their views forward about the trees.Environment Agency chiefs said the trees, which are Monterey Pines, were planted along the bank of the Blind Yeo to act as a buffer for local properties to protect them from the harsh winds of the coast.A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We are in the process of consulting a number of parties and we will wait until their responses have been received before making our recommendations.