Thanks for the suggestions.
To be clear about what I am trying to do.
This is what the stripboard looks like ...
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StripBoard.pngand the copper that I want to remove is between two of the holes.
The leads of the leds will go into two adjacent holes in the trace. If I don't cut the trace between the holes there will be an obvious short between the leads. Regretfully I can not mount the leds so they go from trace to trace the way I assume was intended by the manufacturer.
I have seen the "cutter" that is designed for these boards and regretfully they cut the copper "at the hole" rather than "between the holes".
I don't think lifting the trace is an option as I need the trace to be be attached to the board for the led leads.
Hope that helps describe what I am trying to do.