FORESTRY chiefs were called in after ancient oak trees in Monmouthshire were damaged.

Monmouthshire county council's countryside department launched an investigation after it received a report that the trees at Tredunnock were damaged.

Jim Keech and George Weston, Monmouthshire county council's tree officers, conducted the investigation.

Mr Weston said: "We were shocked. We found that the trunks of seven large oak trees, a number of them wonderful specimens, had been completely sawn through."

He added one of the trees had fallen but the remaining six had been left in a very dangerous condition and could fall any time.

"Why someone would wish to vandalise trees in this way is baffling and we are extremely upset that this action has been taken," he said.

The council says the danger posed by the trees is considerable as a public footpath runs along the eastern side of the field.

The incident was reported to the Forestry Commission for further investigation as the county believe the vandalism amounts to felling trees without a licence.