PEOPLE in Windermere have expressed their sadness at the felling of a 100-year-old tree which has delighted residents and visitors for generations.

Crowds gathered at Ellerthwaite Square last Wednesday (May 23) as the branches of the horse chestnut tree were stripped and shredded to prepare for the removal of the trunk which, according to the tree surgeons carrying out the work, had become diseased and posed a danger to the public.

Allan Prickett, of Ambleside Tree Services, said the operation was being carried out on behalf of South Lakeland District Council.

"It is diseased. About halfway up there is a big, rotten cavity full where a branch has snapped off with about three or tonnes of tree above it. Horse chestnuts are very brittle and prone to snapping and we could not afford to take the risk with it being in such a public place," said Mr Prickett.

Lindsay Shackleton, who sees the tree every day from her workplace at Alexander's Sports across the road from Ellerthwaite Square, said she was "very sad" to se the tree go.

"My sister comes over with her family from the United States and the first thing they want to do is pick up conkers from the tree, and I'm sure it holds similar lovely memories for a lot of people," she said "It is also very popular during the summer and when the weather is nice, lots of people stop to eat their fish and chips under its branches."

This was echoed by Joy Killiner who works at the Corner Shop.

"I am very upset about it. It's been here as long as I have and the children love to collect conkers from it. I think they should replace it with another mature tree," said Mrs Killiner.

Windermere resident Phil Gascoigne said it would be a "real shame" to see it go but he had seen the tree sustain serious storm damage over the years.

South Lakeland District Council tree officer Chris Raper said there had not been time to publicise the felling of the tree because of the urgent need to deal with the danger it posed to public safety.

"We always try to do something to replace a tree when it comes down and usually plant two new trees for every one we remove. There are plans to do some redevelopment at the gardens so we will try to incorporate it into that," said Mr Raper.