Police are investigating the intentional poisoning of two evergreen holm oak trees overlooking Castle Beach in Falmouth, and are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to come forward.

The two trees in question sit above the road in Castle Drive, not far from the disabled access to Pendennis Castle, and are dying.

PC Andy Hocking said: “Someone has drilled holes into the tree trunks and poured some kind of noxious substance into them. As a result the trees are dying. We don’t know when it was done, but whoever is responsible would have to have climbed round the back and in to the rough ground. It is just tragic – they are well established trees.”

Cornwall Council tree surgeons have been out to inspect the trees and confirmed that they have been poisoned. On Friday, PC Hocking and Falmouth MP Sarah Newton visited the scene and made the appeal for information.

Anyone who may know who is responsible for the attack on the trees is asked to contact PC Hocking at Falmouth police station.