ABOUT 45 to 50 diseased and unsafe trees have been felled in Musselburgh.

A group of poplars at Olivebank Road had been scheduled to come down for some time, East Lothian Council said.

About 15 to 20 of the trees have now been felled, including many small growing ones under the crowns of bigger specimens.

A council spokesman said: “The trees had been inspected and concerns noted about their health and structural integrity.

“Poplar wood is relatively brittle and gets worse with age. A number of branches had been blown from these trees in the past.

“Given the location of the trees, next to a very busy road and footpath, the decision was taken to remove them on safety grounds. Two beech trees that were growing with the group have been left to mature.”

Tree felling along the River Esk footpath, where about 30 ash trees have been cut down, is part of the council’s work in relation to ash dieback.

The spokesman said: “The trees were inspected last year and found to be infected with the fungal disease.

“The trees we are removing are in the poorest condition and pose the greatest threat to users of the footpath.”

Ash dieback is a highly destructive fungal disease affecting ash trees – the third most common tree in Britain.

It causes leaf loss and canopy decline and in some cases causes the trees to die.

The disease was first officially recorded in the UK in 2012 and is now widespread.