Tree fears

The dead elm tree, in Adur Drive, Shoreham, is outside the home of the Williams family. They noticed it was rotten about two months ago.

They reported it to Adur District Council, but the responsibility of felling the tree lies with West Sussex County Council, the highways authority.

Tonia Williams said: "It's sad because, apparently, years ago, the drive had lots of elm trees, but, one by one, they have fallen victim to Dutch elm disease and this is the last one.

"But you can see it is rotten and we are concerned that, with the autumn rain and gales we get, it will loosen the roots and fall on our home or car. We have reported it and it was inspected by the council three weeks ago, but nothing has happened since."

Mrs Williams' husband, Macer, said: "We just want something done about it. It obviously needs chopping down."

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: "We were notified about this tree only two days ago. I think the family contacted Adur council at first.

"An inspector was due to look at it on Tuesday and, if he believes it needs felling, as it is a danger, then it will be scheduled to be chopped down."

Dutch elm disease is caused by the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi, spread by the bark beetles Scolytus scolytus and Scolytus multistriatus.

These beetles feed in the upper branches of the tree and introduce the fungal spores to exposed tissue.

Once it has taken hold, the disease spreads rapidly and, unless treated at the early stages, the tree will not survive.

The disease was first recorded in this country in Hertfordshire in 1927. The subsequent infection through the 1930s had a limited impact, as it proved to be a non-aggressive strain.

In the late 1960s, a more aggressive strain, originating from North America, was imported into this country through diseased timber.

It spread rapidly across southern England and, by 1977, was estimated to have killed 50 per cent of the elms in the area.