A LIME tree planted in East Lancashire to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee has been ripped in half by vandals – a little more than two months before the day of celebration.

Environmental campaigners are furious after the specimen – one of four planted by the Mayor of Pendle Coun Nadeem Ahmed – was butchered at Barnoldswick’s town green.

Supporters of Barnoldswick in Bloom have condemned the attack at the venue off Skipton Road and Fernlea Avenue.

Coun Ahmed said: “It is really sad when this sort of thing happens because these people are all volunteers and give up their time for free.

“I just hope they catch whoever is responsible and we can put a stop of this kind of yobbish behaviour.”

Ken Hartley, the group’s chairman, said: “This vandalism is despicable. This tree has been killed by a mindless idiot who has destroyed the work of scores of Bloom group volunteers and the Mayor of Pendle.

“The whole town will be outraged at this wanton destruction. I am appealing to anyone who knows who committed this offence, or has any information about the incident, to contact the police or myself.

“The tree is one of four planted to fill gaps in an avenue of limes across the town green. The trees are all heavy standards and it would take considerable force to break it in this way. It’s a disgrace.” More than 500 trees have been planted by the green crusaders, including copper beech trees and an ‘edible’ hedgerow, after a major donation by the Woodland Trust, as part of the Jubilee celebrations.

In future, a Royal Oak, transplanted from the monarch’s own estate, will also be installed at the nature haven.

Mr Hartley can be contacted on 01282 817535 or people can pass information to Lancashire Police on 01282 425001.