A COUNCIL has started to chop down 160 diseased and potentially dangerous conker trees that could cost taxpayers and landowners £500,000.

And if the disease - known as Phytophthora Bleeding Canker - spreads further and a climate change produces more favourable wetter and warmer conditions, the figure could rise.

Hyndburn Council has employed Tilhill Forestry Services, based in Carnforth, to fell 43 horse chestnut trees in Great Harwood's Memorial Park at a cost of £25,000.

The felling, which runs from today to December 12, is the first phase in a programme to remove around 80 of the diseased trees that are on council land.

The council has also warned that landowners have a duty to remove the borough's remaining diseased trees that are on private land and they will have to foot the bill, which could reach £3,000 per tree as it is more costly to cut down individual trees.

Infected areas in Accrington are Accrington Cemetery, the Sandy Lane campus of Accrington and Rossendale College and the adjacent ambulance station, and the town centre Market Hall.

In Clayton-le-Moors they are the Woodlands, Mercer Park and All Saints Church, Junction 7 Industrial Estate, Henfield House off Blackburn Road.

In Great Harwood and Rishton they are Memorial Park playing fields and park, Grange Close, Lowerfold park, Great Harwood Cemetery and the Dunkenhalgh Hotel and adjacent farmland and woods; and in Altham and Oswaldtwistle they are Altham Industrial Estate and Stanhill.

Coun Brian Walmsley, Hyndburn Council's portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said: "The council is committed to a replanting programme and will be consulting with the Friends of Memorial Park at a meeting next Wednesday."