A COMPANY director is devastated after being told a prominent and ageing tree in his Malvern garden is set for the chop after being declared unsafe.

Alec Newton, aged 54, of Victoria Road, Malvern, has been battling for 15 years to save the 150-year-old cedar tree in his front garden, spending £2,000 on it in the last four years alone.

But now he has been told by Malvern Hills District Council that it has to come down after it was presented with evidence the tree - at the junction of Como Road and Victoria Road - could fall and threaten public safety.

He said: "I'm devastated because it's the one thing in my garden that gives it some kind of depth and perspective and some kind of value in terms of history.

"I really feel it's a genuine loss because for 15 years I've tried to look after it. Many people will be upset to see a tree like this go but on the other hand if it's going to fall into the next door car park it'd be less than prudent not to do anything about it."

Another cedar fell down in Mr Newton's garden and he has since had branches cut off the other one to reduce the wind resistance after it started to move.

Evidence that this tree could become unsafe first appeared three years ago.

Concerns were raised again this winter when cracks started to appear in the lawn and a nearby wall.

An independent arboricultural consultant was asked to examine the situation and concluded that although the tree appeared healthy, evidence showed it was progressively moving.

The district council's landscape officer Chris Mayes inspected the tree and agreed with the independent report that it poses a threat.

He added: "Although it's very sad to see such a significant tree lost from the skyline, we have to accept trees do have a limited life expectancy."

The tree will be replaced with another specimen tree.