THE Devizes Townswomen's Guild has condemned Wessex Water for damaging the roots of a tree planted by one of its former chairmen.

The water company damaged the roots of a lime tree when its workers dug a trench on The Green as they were making the final connections to a new water main.

The tree was planted by the late Gwen Winchcombe in 1973.

Simon Turner, arboricultural officer at Kennet District Council, said: "They have severed the roots and we are looking at measures to ensure the tree doesn't die or if it does die to get a replacement tree."

Dene Partridge, guild chairman said: "We are very upset that Wessex Water has damaged the tree. There is no need for the trench to be that close to the tree. I will be writing to Wessex Water expressing our feelings at the damage caused and I hope the water company pays the bill."

Wessex Water spokesman Mark Fleming said: "We always seek to ensure an area is reinstated and damage repaired wherever we and our contractors are working. This applies to all our water main modernisation work in Devizes. We have already been in touch with Mr Turner and we will meet him to sort out what needs to be done."

The latest damage comes a week after Wessex Water agreed to pay Devizes Town Council, the owner of The Green, compensation of £7,327 for damage its workers caused to The Green last summer while laying a replacement water main.