AN ESTATE agent has apologised after part of a prominent old creeper was killed to put up a ‘To Let’ sign in Abingdon.

Contractors working for Carter Jonas cut off a major section of the Bath Street virginia creeper when putting up a sign to advertise office space.

The estate agent could now face action from council bosses as the plant is in a conservation area.

Bath Street resident Roger Arscott, 55, said the sign was put up about two weeks ago.

He said: “It is one of those beautiful buildings in Abingdon and as far as I am concerned it is vandalism.

“You do not get a 50ft virginia creeper in 10 minutes but you can kill it off in 10 minutes.

“It was a long established vine – it could be decades old or it could be 100 years old for all I know.”

He added: “This is a building of outstanding beauty that has been vandalised for the sake of putting up a sign. I am absolutely shocked and appalled by what has happened. It is outrageous.

“I cannot believe people can go around cutting down things like that with impunity.”

Vale of White Horse District Council spokesman Gavin Walton said about half of the vine was now dead.

He said: “We have written to the estate agent asking for an explanation.

“As the vine is in a conservation area we are looking into whether enforcement action is appropriate, however we cannot comment any further at this stage.”

Nick Wilkinson, an associate at Carter Jonas, said: “Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding with one of our contractors, part of the virginia creeper has been damaged.

“This was not a deliberate act and we are extremely sorry.

“We are in communication with the tree officer and the conservation officer at the district council and our client is making arrangements to remove the damaged section.”