A VILLAGE is celebrating the miraculous return to life of a tree that was vandalised and left to die last year.

As the Citizen revealed more than 12 months ago, Tockholes residents were angry when they discovered that somebody had hacked a three inch band around the base of the popular 60-year-old tree in the school playing field.

The police were alerted but the culprit remained unpunished. Since then the tree has started to show signs of life.

John Jacklin, the chairman of Tockholes Parish Council said: "It is fantastic the tree has managed to heal over and survive the vandal attack."

Tockholes school governor John Williams added: "It is wonderful that nature has been able to fight back against man's vandalism. It is a good moral for the children and a hope it will mean the villagers are doubly vigilant to make sure the same thing deos not happen again."

Ruth Marriner of the Friends of Tockholes Action Group said the whole community was delighted the about tree's return to health.

"We are in the process of applying to Blackburn Borough Council for preservation orders on all the trees in the village. We think it is important these are granted because as a moorland village it can be difficult for trees to grow."

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