SEVEN 100-year-old horse chestnut trees are facing the chop after an overwhelming vote in a village referendum.

In the village of Bishop Monkton, near Ripon, a poll showed that 206 wanted the trees felled, with 91 votes against.

North Yorkshire County Council decided to hold the tree referendum after years of argument in the community about whether the trees should stay or go.

Results of the poll are being put before county councillors on Thursday, with a recommendation that they back the clear-cut majority view.

The trees are a major feature of the beckside at Bishop Monkton and the prospect of the woodman's axe sparked a protest petition, called "Save our beckside trees."

In preparation for removing the seven trees, ten chestnuts were planted 15 years ago by Harrogate Borough Council.

Chris Craven, divisional highway engineer, said it was decided that the old trees only had a limited life expectancy because of damage caused by pruning.