Residents joined forces to try to protect an 80-year-old tree being felled by developers.
More than 20 people gathered under the cypress on a housing development in Hove yesterday stopping contractors from cutting it down.
Despite the reprieve, experts say the 100ft tree must be removed because it could fall down.
Brighton and Hove City Council is now considering taking action against the developers after building work was believed to have undermined the tree's roots.
Jim Murphy, director of Milford Homes, denied building work was responsible.
The cypress is situated on a plot of land off Denmark Villas being developed into 22 homes by London-based firm Milford Homes.
Brighton and Hove City Council ordered the tree, which is not subject to a preservation order, to be retained when permission for the development was granted.
Contractors will remove the tree at a later date. Milford Homes is planning to introduce other plants and landscaping to replace it.
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