TREE surgeons have been forced to chop down a tree in Abingdon after it was smothered by a thick silk web and thousands of caterpillars.

Moths had covered the tree next to the Crown and Thistle Hotel, Bridge Street, to protect themselves from wasps and birds while they fed on the wood.

Vale of White Horse District Council has had to cut down the tree after the infestation spread to a nearby building.

The council said the tree was a Spindle Tree and the damage was caused by a moth called the Spindle Ermine whose caterpillars eat the spindle and leave a silky web.

Vale Tree Officer George Reade said: “The tree was attacked by Spindle Ermine moths. There was a massive infestation leading to problems with the adjacent hotel and on that basis we agreed that the tree should be taken down.

“A flat above was completely covered. Nobody would want to live like that. Plus they were falling on to people and causing problems.

“They are not particularly harmful but just not very pleasant.”

“It happened last year, but it was not as bad and we said we would monitor the situation.

“Last year it took them two weeks to strip it – this year it took them two days.”

The Crown and Thistle Hotel will now have to replace the tree.

Mike Davies, of Castle Street, Steventon, said: “We were walking up the road when we noticed all these cobwebs hanging down.

“Then we realised that the whole tree was covered with them, and on closer inspection we saw these maggot creatures all over the tree. It was rather horrible, I am afraid.

“At first glance it looked like it had got snow on it but it was all these horrible things.”

Abingdon Town Council clerk Nigel Warner said: “It happened last year and some time seven or eight years previously. I always thought that these infestations come and go.

“I was quite disappointed to hear that it had been cut down.

“Last year it happened and it was a bit of a story and we had a few complaints. We made some inquiries and ascertained that it was part of natural life.

“But the district council don’t cut trees down at the drop of a hat. It costs money and they are tree people.”

No-one was available to comment at The Crown and Thistle Hotel.