Who chopped down tree at 4am in Hull's Newland Avenue?

RESIDENTS have been left baffled after vandals chopped down a tree in Newland Avenue in the middle of the night.

A £100 reward has been made available by the Newland Residents' Association in a bid to capture those responsible.

Hull City Council CCTV cameras captured the tree, which was located between Bulk Garage Nutrition and Sumo Japanese food shop, being cut down at 4.18am on Friday, October 3.

A spokesman for the Newland Residents' Association said: "We are asking for the public to help discover who maliciously cut down the tree.

"It's more confusing than anything else.

"We are very disappointed that someone has gone out of their way to remove a tree that was a benefit to traders and residents as it really enhanced the look of the area.

"We are concerned that the person responsible may repeat the exercise."

The tree was a nine-year-old acacia, which had been planted by the residents' association and Hull City Council in October 2005 as part of efforts to improve the street.

The spokesman said: "The tree was thriving and providing some beauty and giving respite in an otherwise concrete jungle environment.

"At 4.18am on October 3, CCTV cameras captured a grainy image of the tree falling.

"The residents association now seeks any witnesses to the incident or any information that could help identify the perpetrators."

The CCTV images also show a taxi arriving and parking at the scene just as the tree falls down.

The spokesman said: "It may be that the driver and passenger are witnesses to the event.

"A £100 reward for information is being offered by the Newland Residents' Association."

The police were contacted.

A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "Police were called by a member of the public on Monday, October 6, reporting criminal damage to a tree close to Newland Grove, Hull.

"The member of the public reporting the incident was advised that the tree was property of the council and would need to be reported to the council."

Members of the Newland Residents' Association are now keen to get a replacement tree planted as soon as possible and have asked the city council for assistance.

Doug Sharp, assistant city manager for waste and open spaces at Hull City Council, said: "We have made attempts to identify those responsible for felling the tree and unfortunately we have been unable to do so.

"The council will look at options to replace the tree in the future."

The Mail asked the council for the CCTV footage to help the appeal, but was told it was not available.