THREE enormous pine trees which have flanked an historic Oxford street for decades were this week felled.

The huge evergreens grew opposite the St Cross Building on Saint Cross Road, which runs from Longwall Street to Parks Road.

Our photographer Ed Nix happened to be passing as this intrepid tree surgeon was sawing off the last of these branches and stopped to capture the scene.

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He said he was saddened to see the beautiful trees being chopped down, when they did not seem to be causing any problems.

It is not known why the pines were felled, though there is development going on in the area.

Oxford University recently announced a major revamp to save the Grade II listed St Cross Building.