They're called Liquidambar. Our local town has lots of them.
I'll post a photo for you to see.

Well, Hywel, thanks for the suggestion but I’m afraid that’s not it. I had two Liquidambar in my last garden and their leaves are more like Maples . . . these leaves are quite long and slender.

ok sorry lol I thought that's what they were :)

I sure someone will know this but the leaves do look like a salix (willow) but the leaf colour does give me a problem.

Hi, have a look at Sorbus aucuparia, or rowan/ mountain ash etc, Derek.

What about Nyssa." Sylvatica". just saw someone post a pic of one on Facebook. Could this be it.

I am very grateful for all your ideas - but still not sure. I've Googled them all and agree the Nyssa looks similar but cannot see the leaves close-up. Another name for Sorbus aucuparia is asplenifolia, and that looks highly likely . . . I'll have to wait and see if there are berries on the trees!

Many thanks everyone :))

Now these trees are like the ones in our nearest town centre and someone told me they were Liquidamber. Wrong information ! … so now I am curious about what they really are.
I may write to the council to ask them.

Hi, I don't think they're Nyssa sylvatica, although the leaves are variable in size and shape, they can be oval, elliptical or obovate, while Sorbus aucuparia are oblong-lance shaped to elliptic, plus they're toothed, which Nyssa isn't, as you say, you will have to look for any berries, Derek.

Hi, I forgot to mention that the trunks of mature Nyssa sylvatica a not smooth, but the trunks of these trees look smooth, which again would suggest Sorbus aucuparia, Derek.

. . . or Fraxinus oxycarpa Raywood (Claret Ash) says a local . . . ?

Hi, that is another possibility, if it has opposite branching shoots and large terminal buds, it probably is a Fraxinus oxycarpa, but if the branches are alternate, it's more likely to be Sorbus aucuparia, I couldn't enlarge the photograph enough to determine whether the branches are alternate or opposite, so couldn't say for definite, Derek.

I will try to see, Derek, might need to take the binoculars for a close look.

I've seen Rowan (sorbus aucuparia) a bit and the photos you have look a lot more like ash to me. the teeth on Rowan are much chunkier. Your suggestion of Fraxinus oxycarpa looks good. Are we allowed to include links ? The red photo in the following looks like your photo

http://www.boethingtreeland.com/fraxinus-oxycarpa-angustifolia-raywood.html

Rhys - many thanks - yes, we can include links, and I've had a look at the one you sent. That's definitely the tree in my road . . . you've cracked it! Brilliant :))