ANGRY residents believe it was the work of mindless vandals – but it appears it may simply have been barking up the wrong tree.

A lone historic tree on Merry Oak green, thought to be around 150 years old, may have to be felled due to damage around its bark.

Initially it was thought vandals had deliberately damaged the Robina tree.

However, tree officers at Southampton City Council and an anonymous nearby resident now believe it may simply be due to a dog gnawing at its base.

A council tree inspector said that the damage to the tree was consistent with that of a dog biting and hacking away at it with its paws.

But this is something that Merry Oak resident Christine Hanslip finds difficult to believe.

She said: “It’s systematically been hacked off, the damage is about three or four foot high all around the tree.

“If people look at the tree they can see, it’s been done by a knife or an axe.

“Animals would leave claw marks and it would have to be one hell of a big dog, the tree must measure six foot around and it would take a lot to pull all the bark off.”

An email to the Daily Echo from an anonymous resident believed the damage was caused by a furry friend.

The email said: “If you inspect the tree you will find claw and teeth marks on it.

“Also if you inspect the young trees on the sports field on Spring Road you will find they have the same damage.”

Southampton City Council appealed to dog owners in the area to be responsible and to prevent animals damaging nearby trees.