Work underway to save one of the oldest Elm trees in the world infected with disease

Video report by ITV News Meridian's Tom Savvides

One of the oldest Elm trees in the world has become infected with elm disease. 

The 400-year-old tree was once part of a pair in Preston Park in Brighton, but its twin had to be cut down when it was infected two years ago.

Now emergency work is underway to try to save this tree after the disease was discovered over the weekend.

The infection has caught hold on a specific large limb within the canopy of the tree, which arboriculture experts have now 'girdled'.

Girdling means removing a section of bark around the complete circumference of the affected limb to hopefully stop the spread of the disease to other parts of the tree.

Brighton and Hove City Council says there are no guarantees of saving the twin.

The council said: "Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee girdling will save the twin as the risk of this infection spreading will continue until the end of this growing season and possibly the next two.

"We will of course be closely checking and examining the twin for any changes that may occur."