Their branches have provided shade and shelter to thousands of walkers and picnickers.

But now a stately row of elm trees have been chopped down after being ravaged by disease.

Portsmouth City Council felled eight trees along Duisberg Way, Southsea, after Dutch Elm Disease caused leaves to turn brown and branches to rot.

Pat Huxtable, of Clarendon Road, Southsea, said: 'It is so sad. I desperately want to keep greenery wherever possible and now such a lovely avenue of trees has gone.

'I cycle along there most days and one day I thought something was missing, then I realised the trees were gone.'

The elms were unmistakable because of their distinctive shape.

The branches bent over at an angle where they had been battered by sea winds for decades.

Mrs Huxtable, who has lived in Southsea near the trees for more than 20 years, said: 'I couldn't believe how quickly they were removed – one day they were there and the next day they were gone.

'Even if they replace them, saplings in the past have been destroyed by drunks and idiots and it would take years for them to be anywhere like the unique trees that were there before.'

The council said the trees had been battling the disease – the most serious to affect British trees – for several years.

City parks and recreation manager Seamus Meyer said: 'We have been closely monitoring the situation. There was a rapid decline in their condition at the beginning of this year and we had no option but to remove them.'

He said the council planned to plant new trees to replace them in the winter.

Ward councillor David Stephen Butler said he was keen to see this happen.

'It is regrettable that they had to come down', he said. 'We have such a great asset in the common that we need to do everything we can to enhance it.

'One of my priorities has always been planting trees and shrubs.'