One of Lancing's tallest trees chopped down

Residents had been campaigning to save the Lombardi Poplar tree in Irene Avenue which stood in front of Oakfield Middle School but the county council declared it unsafe and in the way of building work on the site to make the school into a primary.

Last month Oakfield Middle vice-chairman of governors Keith Dollemore was escorted off the premises by police two weeks while trying to protect the tree when workman arrived early to chop it down.

A stand-off was called and the tree was left for two weeks.

But last week the council announced it was planning to cut the tree down and workmen arrived on Thursday morning to chop it down.

The tree had stood in front of the school for more than half a century.

There were originally five or six trees, planted when the original Irene Avenue school was built, but it is the only one to remain following the Great Storm of 1987.

Mr Dollemore said: "I am disappointed. We have campaigned hard to save the tree and Irene Avenue won't look the same without it."

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