TREES planted in Callington to remember soldiers who died in the first world war may not be replaced because of persistent vandalism, said frustrated Royal British Legion members this week.

There was outcry last year when five of the mature trees on Launceston Road were 'insensitively' removed to widen a road as part of highway improvements associated with a new housing development. Now, the young specimens put in to replace them are being vandalised.

Despite calls from RBL members and the town council to put metal guards around the trees, Cornwall Council says this cannot be done because the trees are on the highway verge and would damage vehicles if they collided with them.

Chairman of Callington RBL David Jones said the saga of the trees was all upsetting for the families of the soldiers who died. A plaque explaining why the trees were put there is located on a nearby seat.

He said: 'The trees were put there in the 1920s and there is a long line of them from the Bowling Green area, which was where all recreation took place all those years ago before we had all the traffic.

'I am past the point of getting angry about it. Every time we try to do our best to get the trees replaced something else happens and I think it has come to a point where we might have to wash our hands of it. It is all we seem to talk about at the legion meetings.'

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: 'The council has worked with the Royal British Legion and Callington Town Council to provide trees planted as a memorial to those who have died in the service of the country's armed forces. The location for the trees identified by the legion was understandably high profile, but, sadly, has been subject to vandalism for some time. 

'It is a great shame that efforts to mark the memory of those who fought for their country have been repeatedly ruined by the thoughtless acts of a few.  The destruction of the trees is criminal damage, and we would ask anyone who saw the damage taking place or who knows anything about it to report it to the police.

'We will be discussing the situation with the Royal British Legion and Callington Town Council.  An alternative location for the trees may have to be considered.'

The six trees which were replaced last year included a copper beech, a common beech and four small leaf limes.

The spokesperson added that on the advice of the council's highways service, metal tree guards were not put up as a means of dissuading vandalism.  

'The trees are planted on the highway verge, and a car colliding with a wooden tree is likely to suffer less damage than a car colliding with a metal tree guard.  In addition to this, metal tree guards need to be sunk deep into the ground.  This is not possible in this location due to services running underneath the trees.'