Streets in Worcester will continue to be lined with trees after an agreement signed by the city council.

The Guildhall has made a public pledge that any trees felled in city will be replaced as a matter of course.

Roadside trees are ultimately the responsibility of Worcestershire County Council as the highways authority, but they are managed by both the city and county councils.

There are 2,500 trees along Worcester's streets and the city council has got a guarantee from Worcestershire County Council that they will be replaced.

As we reported in April, six trees that lined the New Road in Worcester were cut down after they were found to have structural defects.

The issue prompted the city council to seek the agreement as in the past there has been no policy on the replacement of trees.

The city's tree protection officer Geoff Poole said: "The six trees were removed because of fungal decay, and I have assurances the county council will undertake replacement planting.

"We have assurances that all trees felled from now on will be replaced, so I think we have definite, real progress on the matter.

"The city council does not really have the manpower to look after and manage all the trees without doing it on an ad hoc basis, and that hasn't really been satisfactory. Getting assurances that trees will be replaced is real progress though, so things have definitely moved forward."

He also said the city council would work more closely with the 15 members of the public listed as tree wardens in Worcester to ensure problems are spotted earlier.

Former Worcester Mayor Coun Aubrey Tarbuck said: "The trees are great for the city, and I think it's great that we have made progress on managing it."

Derek Prodger, county council cabinet member for the environment, said: "I'm delighted an agreement has been made because I'm always concerned when trees are felled. Trees are a very important feature for Worcester and I'm very supportive of the agreement."