By Jenny Barwise

Last updated at 11:30, Friday, 28 September 2012

Police are hunting vandals who sawed through a 200-year-old tree, causing roads to be closed for four hours as it was cut down.

The vandals cut three quarters of the way through the 60ft (20m) high oak tree in Maryport’s Memorial Gardens.

A dog walker reported the vandalism to police at midday on Wednesday and, due to the damage caused to the tree, there were concerns that it could fall onto Mealpot Road at any time and a decision was taken to cut it down.

A tree surgeon was brought in to fell the tree. Roads around the area were closed for four hours while this took place.

Police believe it happened at 1am on Wednesday, when residents say they heard a chainsaw.

Sergeant Aidan Bew said that if the tree fell it could have caused a lot of damage.

“This was a senseless and particularly malicious crime which could have caused very serious injuries to innocent passers-by,” he said. “We need to find whoever caused this damage and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

Sgt Bew is appealing for anyone who has a CCTV system that covers roads and pathways near to the garden, to get in touch.

A smaller tree, a 21ft-high cherry tree, had also been felled.

A spokeswoman for Allerdale council, which owns the gardens, said that the council was “shocked”.

Any witnesses should call Sgt Bew, PC Cassie Crawford or any officer on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

First published at 11:28, Friday, 28 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk