MAINTENANCE of Enfield's 20,000 trees has been contracted to a Hertfordshire company.

A three year contract with a possible two year extension has gone to Gristwood and Toms.

The service has been contracted out at a cost of £675,000 to the taxpayer per year over three years.

The company is based in Shenley, Hertfordshire and already works for several London boroughs, including Ealing, Sutton, Hillingdon and Bromley.

Part of Gristwood and Toms' remit is to increases the frequency trees will be stemmed which should create a "clean and tidy streetscene" according to the report put before cabinet members at their meeting on May 21 at the Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield Town.

The council also envisions this freeing up council officers to concentrate more on managing the tree stock rather than investigating complaints about overgrown or dangerous street trees.

Officers also hoped the new contract would "improve the aesthetic appearance and condition" of Enfield's tree stock.

A council spokesman said: “Gristwood and Toms were chosen as the best contractor who would deliver a quality, cost effective service."