A fence will not be built along a stretch of the M11 where 800 trees were removed, despite complaints of “hideous” noise and views.

Earlier this month, Highways England announced it was looking at four options for the motorway embankment in Fiddlers Hamlet, Epping Forest, after residents angrily reacted to the removal of a 550m row of 40-year-old trees.

The agency said timber fencing, willow screening, an environmental barrier and new mature trees could all replace the cleared trees.

People living in Fiddlers Hamlet hoped a fence could be erected soon, after the noise-blocking trees were removed without warning in February to clear the way for £4.7million road works.

However, this week Highways England announced it will not be building a fence.

The embankment will be left bare until October, when the agency will plant about 4,000 trees and shrubs, including an extra 150 mature trees standing up to 4m tall.

Agency team leader Aran Nugent said a fence was “not suitable for this site”.

Speaking about the timber fencing and environmental barrier options, a Highways England spokeswoman said: “Both of them would be structures with a lot of long-term maintenance involved and it came in as very expensive, and we would have to drop another scheme to do that.

“The planting will offer the same visual screen and won’t have any safety implications.”

She added: “We will start planting in October because that is the best time, we want them to take and provide the screening in the shortest time, and for the longest benefit.”

Neighbours have described the motorway as an “oppressive presence” after the old trees were removed, with claims of constant disturbance and children being sent home from school after falling asleep at their desks because of overnight noise.

The noise will be “unbearable” in winter when the road hardens again, said Fiddlers Hamlet resident Barry Samms.

“It is much more than just the visual impact, it is the noise, the pollution, the wildlife impact.

“I think the house prices have definitely taken a tumble.

“The view from my garden is certainly not the same as last year, all I can see is lorries going along the M11 all day, every day.”