THE hedge which surrounded the former Harold Road Junior School, Abergavenny has been ripped out, leading to complaints from residents. One woman, who does not wish to be named, said she had complained to Monmouthshire County Council and the Gwent Wildlife Trust, amid fears that nesting birds had been disturbed.

But a spokesman for the contractors, Turners, said the hedge had been removed before the nesting season started, and no birds were disturbed. The school is currently being remodelled by the contractors in a £4 million scheme which will create a 210 primary school and a nursery unit, and pupils are being taught on the St David's Junior School site.

The spokesman said: "The school boundary was inspected last year to establish security and the mixture of hedging was breached in several places.

"It was agreed with CADW that a hooped topped fence be erected, and this could not be done without the removal of the hedge which was in poor condition and full of ivy. That was done a month ago and a replacement hedge has already been planted. In addition to the retained nature garden at the rear, a new children's garden/habitat area is to be established within the Avenue Road boundary."