IT HAS dominated a Hampshire village since the oldest residents were small children.

Generations of local youngsters have grown up in the shadow of a huge Monterey cypress that dwarfs the local church.

Children on their way to the village school have skipped past the tree since the year Florence Nightingale died.

As the years rolled by the 100ft evergreen proved a comforting constant in an ever-changing world.

But South Baddesley, near Lymington, is about to lose the colossal conifer that has been part of village life for almost a century.

The local landmark has fallen victim to old age, leaving many of its branches in a dangerous state.

Its disappearance will change the face of St Mary's Church, a picturesque place of worship that featured in a film by director Ken Russell.

The Monterey cypress was planted in 1910 to mark both the accession of King George V and the birth of an heir at nearby Pylewell Park.

Since then it has grown in leaps and bounds, making it one of the biggest trees in the Lymington area.

However, experts have warned villagers that the historic tree is now 80 per cent "in demise".

Churchwarden John Vernon said: "There could be serious consequences for road users and the churchyard if we left the tree for another winter.

"It's very sad to think it will soon be coming down after all these years.

"I recently spoke to a woman of 91 who remembered dancing around the tree when she was a little girl at South Baddesley School.

"We hope to get another tree to replace the one we are losing, but not the same sort and not in the same place."

Mr Vernon said the cypress had caused serious damage to the church wall.

He added: "It will cost £2,350 to remove, but we hope to recoup some of the money by asking for donations in return for free cypress logs."

Local tree surgeon Paul Lanyon is due to start work to remove the cypress from the churchyard on November 4.