AN oak tree, which must be reduced in size if it is to remain standing, may be 'cut down and replaced with more', say members of Okehampton Town Council.

The move at a town council meeting on Monday came after an arboricultural consultant recommended the height of the oak tree be reduced to eight to ten metres. The tree, which stands at the back of Simmons Park and backs on to property at Station Road, is an estimated 24 metres high.

The town council wants it cut down and replaced with five oak trees.

Town mayor Cllr David Weekes said: 'It's a shame to lose an old oak tree, but the decision is based purely on the repair work that would need doing on it.

'It seems better to replace it with new trees, so we have a good mixture of trees old and new.'

The town council will write to a tree consultant at West Devon Borough Council to find out if there is a tree preservation order which would restrict them from cutting the tree down.