MALDON District Council has called in tree specialists to pinpoint exactly what's wrong with some of the horse chestnut trees in the Prom's iconic Avenue of Remembrance.

It is thought the trees could be suffering from infection by a fungus-like organism called Phytopthera, known to cause bleeding canker in horse chestnuts.

Experts have looked at all the trees worrying park wardens at the Prom and their findings are expected shortly.

The diseased trees will be replaced over the winter months, though probably not by horse chestnuts as they could also become infected. It is possible a species known as Wild Service Trees – Sorbus, also known as chequers or the checker tree – could be used to replace them.

A council spokesperson said: "It looks probable that they have succumbed to Phytopthera and we are waiting for the details from an arboricultural survey.

"We are considering replacing them with Wild Service Trees, as it looks like the Sorbus species may not ordinarily be affected.

"However, no decisions have been made about replacements yet. We are still waiting for the formal arboriculture report on all the trees of concern in the Prom, but works will take place over the winter to remove them, with a view to replacing them this tree-planting season, before the spring warms up too much."

History of Promenade Park's Avenue of Remembrance

Promenade Park's first Avenue of Remembrance was created in 1935 when the families of those from the town who died in the First World War (1914-1918) planted 180 trees to commemorate their loved ones. The avenue was dedicated to their memory on 27 November, 1935.

A further horseshoe shaped Avenue of Remembrance was created in the park and dedicated on 8 November, 1987. There were 86 trees planted to remember the town's World War Two dead.

There was a full rededication of the Second World War trees on 11 November, 2002.