A prominent and much-loved Winchester tree has been chopped down, a victim of Sunday night's storm.

The 60-foot tulip tree, which stands in Abbey Gardens, was declared unsafe after the high winds split the trunk.

The city council took the decision to call in tree surgeons yesterday to cut down the 80-year-old tree.

Nigel Trowell, parks and recreation officer, said today: "It was probably one of the best specimens around. I'm devastated. It was my favourite tree in the park.

"It was a classic tree with a wonderful flower which almost looks like a tulip.

"I watched them cut it down. When the branches hit the ground there was that horrible crunching sound. I was close to tears, I must admit."

By this morning only the tree's forlorn-looking trunk was left standing. Several other damaged trees in Winchester had to be chopped down after the violent storms.