TWO huge trees at risk of collapsing because of decay will be cut down to protect visitors to a city park.

The pair of trees in Gheluvelt Park in Worcester will be removed at the end of August to stop branches from falling on passers-by.

Worcester City Council will be keeping the two tree trunks in place to provide a habitat for wildlife in the park - including insects, birds, bats and fungi - and new trees will be planted in the park later this year.

A large cedar tree by the Pump House in the park recently lost one of its biggest branches due to heavy water logging – a common issue with that species of tree - and the area where the largest remaining branch joins the trunk has decayed.

Due to the branch falling off, the tree's crown is not able to provide enough energy to hold the rest of the tree meaning more branches could fall off.

If the branch did fall from the tree it could potentially take a large part of the trunk with it., the city council said.

A second willow tree by the park's bandstand is at risk of collapse because it has been affected by a fungal pathogen.

Nick McGowan, tree and conservation officer for Worcester City Council, said: “It is always heart-breaking to have to remove well-established and much-loved trees, but sadly these two are now coming to the ends of their lives.

"The good news is that the trees will continue to make a contribution to the natural habitat in Gheluvelt Park because the trunks will be left there to become homes to insects, mosses, birds and other wildlife."