Solved What plant is this?

I have this huge bush / tree which is very spiky and later white flowers turn into red berries!

Was wondering what it is so I know how much I can prune it down

 

Pyracantha - Wikipedia

How to grow pyracantha / RHS Gardening


My parents had one, tore my hands if pruned without gloves, tore my forearms if I pruned wearing gloves. The thorny prunings were difficult to dispose of, unless by burning. I still remember fighting to push the pruning in old compost bags, the fighting to pull them out again. But birds loved the berries.

 

Looks like a Pyracantha.
You can prune anytime during the growing season, but spring is best. If you prune now, you will lose the brightly-coloured berries. The birds eat these over the winter.

 

Thanks all!

Yes it is that! Apparently it's been planted 20 years ago by previous people at the house and never been maintained so I spent a whole afternoon shaping it and thinning it out as branches were sooo badly tangled. Earned myself lots of cuts and scratches but it still has lots of berry flowers left. It's at the back of the house so out of sight. Will see how it goes in the next spring

 

They're very good under a window to put off any 'would be burglers ' too . My parents had one under a small yet potentially accessible secluded downstairs toilet window.

 

Ours is a the back by the garden gate / wall, we are keeping the good enough height also for the security, I doubt anyone would want to climb over it