Nicky Gough and Colette HolbrookGAZETTE & HERALD: A GRIEVING relative of car smash victim Nicky Gough is thought to be responsible for hacking down the tree that killed him and fiance Colette Holbrook at Easter.

The inseparable couple died when their car hit the tree at Sandy Lane as they returned from a day out in Bournemouth.

Police believe members of his family, unable to come to terms with the death of the 21-year-old, used a chainsaw to chop it down on Tuesday morning.

Police were called to the scene at around 11am after a local farmer spotted a man behaving strangely.

The 50ft oak tree was on land known as Great Wood, belonging to the Bowood Estate. Tributes to Mr Gough and Miss Holbrook including photographs and a wooden cross have been ripped off the tree.

The tree is not in a conservation area and does not have preservation orders attached to it. Bowood is not thought to be taking action over the damage.

A couple of weeks ago Mr Gough's parents Kim and Kevin, who live in Brook Street, Chippenham, placed a cross on the tree in memory of their son.

"Nicky's granddad made it," said Mrs Gough. "Then yesterday I got home from work and it was on my doorstep there was no note or anything.

"We don't know what happened. I'm quite glad it's been chopped down but as far as I'm concerned it's nine weeks too late."

She said the family is still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.