More than 100 trees in a plantation near Devizes need work on them to make them safe, according to a tree specialist.

Highworth-based tree specialist Neil Portlock was commissioned to undertake a survey of the trees in Leipzig Plantation on Roundway Hill for Devizes Town Council, which owns the area. The report was considered at last week's meeting of the town council's recreation and properties committee.

Mr Portlock suggests remedial work on over 100 trees in the plantation, ranging from removing dead wood to severe pruning of branches. He says that some major remedial tree surgery operations are necessary to attempt to make the trees safe, but adds: "Though safety, even after the recommendations have been carried out cannot be assured due to the poor structural condition of all of the trees.

"Due to the large amount of public use in this area, I must stress the potential danger from tree failure. The removal of all mature and over-mature trees is the only possible way to ensure safety to all users of this site." This could involve the felling of over 100 trees.

But town council manager Simon Fisher said that safety in a wooded area like this was less of a priority than in an urban setting. He said: "People go into woods expecting that they would not be as safe as if they were walking down a street, so we can modify our actions accordingly."

Councillors agreed to recommend that only the perimeter trees, those that might fall on the highway, be attended to. A sum of £3,000 has been put aside in next year's budget for trees and woodland management.