AN HISTORIC tree has been felled after more than 250 years as a village landmark.

The so-called stock elm tree in Penn once marked the spot where village villains of yesteryear suffered the humiliation of the stocks and were pelted with rotten fruit.

But on Tuesday the tree, which has remained rooted to the spot for more than two centuries, came down with a bump.

Villagers watched as the 15 to 20ft tree was tethered to a four-wheel drive and wrenched from the earth.

Miles Green, clerk to Penn Parish Council, which decided on the drastic action for safety reasons, was sorry to see the tree go.

He said: "I'm going to miss it. We've kept it there in the face of a lot of gestures that we should move it. We just kept it because it was an interesting shape.

"It must have seen a great deal in the village over the years."

The tree had been completely rotten for about 50 years and had been leaning at an angle of about 30 degrees.

For now Mr Green has decided to leave the tree lying where it fell so sentimental villagers can take a piece of it home with them.