Paris abandons plans for new buildings at foot of Eiffel Tower after uproar

U-turn comes after months of protests over scheme that would have meant loss of mature trees

The Paris mayor's office has abandoned plans for new buildings around the foot of the Eiffel Tower after months of protests from environmentalists and a petition signed by nearly 150,000 people.

Under the scheme, about 20 mature trees would have been cut down and four new buildings housing a cafe, shops, toilets and baggage drop-off constructed.