'So sad' blossoming cherry tree felled

Chopped cherry tree branches in blossom caused an outpouring of grief in Roxburgh earlier this week.

Locals took to social media to express their dismay when they saw a cherry tree that had stood on the grounds of the Teviot Union Parish Church for many years had been chopped down.

One person said it was ''so sad'' that the tree covered in blossoms had been chopped down, while another said it was ''such a shame''.

A spokesman for the Teviot Union Parish Church said he sympathised with people who were fond of the tree, but it had been assessed by an arborist as being in a dangerous position.

The tree was about 100 years old, and one branch had already come off, he said.

The parish had known for some time that the tree was not in a good state, but recent news of the fining of Discoveries Educare Centre in Auckland, after children and a teacher were injured by a falling tree in 2016, was a further prompt that it was time for the tree to go.

''There was a big branch hanging over the footpath and so action was taken on it rather quickly.''

''Basically that was the reason - it became a bit dangerous.''

He acknowledged the tree had become a ''bit of an icon'' and was held in great esteem, but could confirm that a replacement tree was planned.

''There is going to be another suitable tree there.''