Newly-planted trees at the “gateway” to Marlow have been vandalised just weeks after they were planted.

Three saplings were planted last month as part of Sorbon Estates’ plans to revitalise Anglers Court on Spittal Street, but two of the trees have since been snapped in half.

A row of well-loved mature trees were removed in favour of the new ones saplings, causing controversy among residents – one of whom branded the move an act of “environmental vandalism.”

However, shops in Anglers Court have welcomed the improvement work, which included alterations to the shop fronts, new granite paving and circular benches.

Nathalie Lloyd, manager at home furnishings store Boraca, in Anglers Court, branded the tree damage “disgraceful.”

She said: “The work on improving Anglers Court is mostly finished, there are just a few little bits and pieces left for the workmen to do, but now the trees have been damaged. It is a real shame that there has been some vandalism to the new trees.

“The tree outside our shop is still there but the two others have been damaged. I have no idea who did this or why, I have just come into the shop today and seen it and it is just dreadful.”

Angie Kraft, sales and marketing manager at Bonners and Babingtons, previously told the Marlow Free Press the team were thrilled with the improvement work at Anglers Court and said the damage to the new trees was “upsetting.”

She said: “We were really pleased with the work that has been done by Sorbon but we came into the shop on Monday morning to see that two of the trees had been snapped.

“It is very upsetting. It looks like the trees are being replaced but there is the worry that they could be damaged again.”

All three of the trees will now have to be removed and replaced.

Tamra Booth, managing director at Sorbon Estates, which is part of Shanly Group, said: “We are obviously disappointed that the newly planted saplings have been vandalised and will be replacing all three trees at Anglers Court with a taller and sturdier variety of the same species. These have been ordered and will be planted next week.”