Diseased elm trees to be felled near Withdean Park

A sign of Dutch elm disease is a tree losing its leaves while others are healthy looking

Around 30 trees infected with Dutch elm disease are to be felled.

Brighton & Hove City Council said it is necessary to prevent the disease spreading to other trees.

Work to remove the affected trees on Peacock Lane, near Withdean Park, is expected to take three weeks.

The council warned that if the "higher than usual" outbreak is not brought under control a "large proportion" of Brighton and Hove's 17,000 elm trees could be lost.

Approximately 30 larger elm trees will be removed, as well as some smaller elms which have grown from infected roots.

The non-elms will be left alone unless they are found to be unsafe and new trees will be planted, the council said.

Dutch elm disease is thought to have wiped out 25m trees in Britain

Councillor Alan Robins, cabinet member for sport and recreation said it was "very sad news" and "never an easy decision to make".

He said: “We’re sorry for the impact this loss will have on the people living in Peacock Lane and we’ll do everything we can to minimise the impact."

Dutch elm disease, also known simply as elm disease, is a fungal infection spread by a beetle that can rapidly wither and kill healthy trees.

The council previously said an increase in the use of wood burning stoves could have lead to infected logs being brought in from other parts of Sussex.

Mr Robins said the council is "very proud" of the city's elm collection, many of which were planted during the Victorian and Edwardian periods.

He asked residents to only buy wood for log burners or stoves if they know it is not elm wood.