AN HISTORIC conker tree which has the ashes of a former vicar and two of his grandchildren buried under it is to be felled because it is diseased.

The huge horse chestnut, outside Accrington's Christ Church, is the latest to be targeted for felling although it is not thought to have the same fungal disease which has signalled the end for more than 60 other horse chestnut trees in Memorial Park, Great Harwood.

With a massive circumference of more than nine feet, the tree, which is in the Christ Church conservation area and is the subject of a tree preservation order, is thought to have been planted shortly after the church was built in 1840.

The ground beneath it became the final resting place for the Reverend Justin Wenter, who served as vicar at the church, in Christ Church Square, for several years up to his death in the 1960s.

The ashes of two of his grandchildren - Justin, 19, and Elizabeth, 16 - who were killed in a head-on car crash in Haslingden Old Road, Oswaldtwistle, in June 1989, are also buried under the tree. The accident happened days short of Justin's 20th birthday.

Council officials say the tree, at the junction of Rough Lee Road and Christ Church Square, is rotting and must come down because it is dangerous. But residents have given the news a mixed response.

In a letter authorising the felling of the tree, Mark Cocks, Hyndburn Council's trees and woodlands officer, said it had internal decay.

"The tree is potentially unsafe and while it could last for several years, there is also an unacceptable risk that it could suddenly give way. Felling is recommended on safety grounds," he said.

The Rev Kevin Logan, of Christ Church, said: "There has been local press coverage about horse chestnut trees so I asked the council to come down and have a look at ours.

"We have had trees on either side of us condemned so it stands to reason we should have ours checked. He said it was not the same disease but it was diseased.

"We are hoping people will understand. It's very sad news for us because it's a gorgeous tree.

"From now until September we have got kids collecting conkers from it and pulling it to pieces climbing it. "

Pam Holdich, of Christ Church, said: "We all want it down. The kids climb it and one of these days there could be another serious accident." The work would be carried out between October and March by a private tree surgeon, a council official said.

Another resident said: "It would be nice if the council got a second opinion."

The family of the Rev Wenter and the two teenagers could not be contacted today.