AN ANCIENT oak tree on a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Worcestershire has been felled because it was damaged by vandals.

The tree, which is at least 300 years old and believed to be one of the oldest in the West Midlands, was on Pipers Hill Common Nature Reserve near Hanbury, Droitwich, and owned by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

Hamish Thomson, the trust's reserves officer for that area, said the tree was vandalised last autumn when someone lit a fire in the natural hollow that had developed in the tree's trunk.

"The oak tree had naturally hollowed and decayed over time - the classic characteristics of a very old but living tree. Unfortunately someone decided to light a fire inside the hollow trunk and, because of the tree's shape, this acted like a chimney," said Mr Thomson.

"The blaze within the tree significantly weakened the trunk. It is a very sad loss. The tree was on a grassy knoll looking out over Hanbury Church, which is a popular spot for people visiting the reserve. We had to take the decision to fell it from the point of view of safety."

The tree provided an important habitat for fungi and deadwood invertebrates as well as a feeding and nesting site for many birds.

"We will leave the trunk there and it will still provide a habitat for the invertebrates but it would have provided a better habitat if it was still standing."

Trust nature reserve manager Neil Mclean felled the tree 20 metre high (66ft) using a 30 metre mobile elevation platform to remove the limbs from the top and then the trunk.