TEENAGERS who spent two weeks building a tree house have been left upset after Oxford City Council turned up and tore it down.

The youngsters, who used their own cash to buy building materials, had been praised for their efforts at Spindleberry Close Nature Reserve, in Blackbird Leys.

The city council said it was pulled down because the local authority would have been liable if anyone had injured themselves inside the house, and others had used it as a drinking den.

Daniel Hewitt, from Knights Road, said a group of about eight friends had spent two weeks finding the materials and constructing the tree house, complete with tarpaulin roof, carpets and windows.

The 17-year-old said: “I’m a bit angry they did it without even giving us a warning. It was the best thing we have ever managed to make, and we were not using it to do anything we should not have been doing.

“We looked around and it was the best place we could find because it was out of the way and not noticeable.”

The teenagers finished building the treehouse on Monday, June 15, after asking neighbours for materials and spending about £50 of their own money to finish the job.

But, when they returned on Wednesday, the tree house had been dismantled and all the materials taken away.

Daniel admitted they had not asked the council for permission, but had approached one of the neighbourhood PCSOs who had no problems with what they were doing.

He said: “We want them to apologise and hopefully build another one for us.”

Some neighbours complained the spot was being used as a drinking den, but one parent said the teenagers were not .

Daniel’s father Mr Hewitt said: “I know my boys don’t do anything antisocial and they wouldn’t have been smoking or drinking in there, they are all pretty good kids.

“They weren’t causing trouble to anybody and we thought it was a great idea for them.”

Council spokesman Chris Lee said the tree house had been built without permission in a nature area. He said: “We had reports that the structure and surrounding area was attracting various forms of antisocial behaviour, including drinking. We found evidence of drinking on the site. We have also seen evidence of drug-taking on this site in the past and our park rangers have worked in partnership with PSCOs and street wardens to rid the area of this problem.

“We do not want these issues to reappear.”

Mr Lee said because the house was on council land, the authority could have been liable if anyone had been injured while using it.

He said: “We would suggest that people do not build things like this without permission.

“Our parks team are always on hand to discuss ideas to improve our parks and open spaces.”

Gordon Roper, former parish council chairman, said: “At least these kids were using their initiative and keeping out of trouble, but they should have asked permission.”