Protesters guarded the tree round-the-clock

The four plane trees stood in Devizes market place for 112 years until contractors moved in before dawn on a Sunday morning earlier this month.

Three of them were cut down before the town was awake.

But protestors, including local bank managers and shop owners, gathered before the last one could be felled.

Four men took to the branches to guard it and then one remained in the tree on six-hour shifts for some time afterwards to ensure it was left standing.

Protestors claimed the council wanted to cut down the trees because they did not fit in with a redevelopment programme for the area.

The council is creating new parking spaces in the market place and installing features such as "heritage kerbing".

Stunted growth

But a council spokesman said the trees were in a poor position and this had stunted their growth.

Once they were removed, the spokesman said, new trees would be planted in a place where they could reach their full height.

The council still claims the final tree is diseased, despite a report commissioned by local people suggesting it is not.

Councillors will now have it tested by an independent expert.