Kent trees felled after infestation of Asian longhorn beetle

The Asian longhorn beetle attacks a wide variety of trees

A public meeting will be held to update people in Kent about the outbreak of an exotic tree-killing beetle.

The Asian longhorn beetle has been spotted in the Paddock Wood area, near Maidstone.

Efforts to eradicate the beetle have found that 22 trees are infested with its larvae, meaning dozens will be felled.

The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) will hold the meeting on Wednesday in nearby Hop Farm.

The infestation zone, which is counted as the area within a 100m (328ft) radius of each infested tree, currently covers more than 80,000 sq m. (262,467 sq ft)

In Italy and the US, eradication measures to treat outbreaks have led to the loss of tens of thousands of mature trees.

The infestation was discovered close to the site of the Hop Farm Music Festival where Bob Dylan is expected to perform in June.

John Morgan, head of plant health at the Forestry Commission, said: "It is vital that action is taken now to prevent the spread of this potentially extremely damaging, non-native pest of broadleaved trees."