Cllr Klaus Armstrong-Braun said he contacted the Environment Agency after alder trees were found to be dead near the Stone Bridge in Saltney.

He claims the trees may have been blighted by a disease for some time, but that polluted water they were absorbing from the Balderton Brook, could have killed them completely.

He is calling for a full investigation by the Environment Agency.

He said: "The trees have been dying and last year the council didn't find out what was wrong but they have all died now.

"There are two things it could be.

"One option is that it was the disease, but whatever is in the brook this time is the worst I have seen in there.

"I want a full investigation from the Environment Agency.

"The trees drink up the water and if that's highly polluted, it could be what killed them.

"I believe it's a combination of the two things."

He also said he would like the Environment Agency to remove the trees because of safety issues.

Cllr Armstrong-Braun said: "The problem we've got now is that the trees need cutting down because they could fall down and could be dangerous."

An Environment Agency spokesman said they would look into the issue.

Alder trees grow up to 20 metres high and young trees can gain up to half a metre each season.