Cleethorpes: Trees infected by Dutch elm disease to be felled

A number of trees in the Kings Road area of Cleethorpes are infected with Dutch elm disease

Trees affected by Dutch elm disease along Cleethorpes' seafront are to be felled, officials said.

North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) said eight of 15 diseased trees in the Kings Road area would be removed in the "coming weeks and months".

A further 45 trees would be "monitored", the authority said.

The disease is a fungal illness spread by a bark beetle and first made its appearance in the UK in the 1920s, killing up to 40% of all elm trees.

A more aggressive strain emerged in the late 1960s, brought to Britain with a shipment of logs from North America.

NELC said it was looking to replace the trees.

Councillor Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment, said: "It's a terrible shame these trees have become infected.

"To prevent the problem spreading and affecting more trees, the council has no choice but to remove those that are clearly infected."