King's College planted the oaks in the early 1980s.

College authorities claim the trees have not thrived, have put on little growth and several have died.

The oaks were planted in the early 1980s when many of the elm trees along the Backs were killed and damaged by Dutch Elms disease.

A committee at King's - which owns part of Queens Road - decided to build a single line of oak trees in their place.

Because oaks are slow-growing, it was decided that they should be protected by a line of Italian alders.

The alders would be taken down once the oaks had matured and needed more light.

But the oaks have not matured as planners would have liked.

The college is applying to the council for permission to fell them.

It hopes to plant lime trees in their place.