They wanted to lop some of their branches off to make sure that buses diverted around the latest tram works at Haymarket didn't smash into them.

Residents in leafy Grosvenor Crescent immediately leapt to the defence of the trees, though, protesting they must remain untouched.

One chestnut tree is believed to be more than 200 years old.

Some residents are so concerned about the possible damage, they have offered to give up a line of parking bays to protect them.

The protests halted plans to cut back the trees yesterday, while the council considers the idea of temporarily suspending residents' parking bays to give the buses enough room to pass the trees.

The move is likely to divide the neighbourhood, as the idea is understood to have been previously rejected by residents groups.

Kenneth Murray, 49, chairman of a fund management firm, who has lived on Grosvenor Crescent for 12 years, supports the idea.

"It is an absolutely scandalous proposal to cut and prune these trees for the sake of a temporary traffic diversion," he said.

"This council is always banging on about the need for being environmentally sensitive, but you can hardly say this is environmentally sensitive.

"It is outrageous and typical of the way the whole project has just been forced through the city.

"These trees are on private property and, more importantly, they have been there for hundreds of years.

"We are proposing they lose some of the residents' parking bays temporarily, and I hope they listen to this common sense solution."

A solution to the problem will have to be thrashed out between council officials and residents in the coming weeks, before major tram works start at Haymarket next month.

The works will mean east-bound bus services avoiding Haymarket on a diversion along Landsdowne Crescent and down Grosvenor Street. The diversion is due to be in place by August 18.

The section is among the last on the airport to Newhaven route to have utilities moved and will mean a series of traffic diversions.

This is expected to create major problems, particularly in the first few weeks when the Festival is still in full swing. Work is scheduled to last until February 2009.

Councillor Joanna Mowat, who represents the city centre ward, said: "From what I can see it is a sensible compromise, especially if the local residents are happy to go without the parking spaces temporarily.

"There are some difficulties with parking in that area, so I guess a balance would have to be struck however."

Earlier this month, tram firm TIE was criticised for its plans to cut down an avenue of trees on Shandwick Place to make way for the tram line.

A council spokeswoman said: "We understand residents desire to protect their trees. Our goal in pruning them was to ensure that vehicles on the public road are not impeded and also to protect the trees from substantial damage from moving vehicles.

"Our tree expert was the best course of action. We will now meet with residents to come to an amicable solution on taking this matter forward."