YOBS armed with a chainsaw cut down half a dozen trees planted in a Billericay park to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.

Councillors have been left outraged by the incident which saw at least six commemorative trees cut down in the South Green open space on Tuesday morning.

Pictures show several trees laying on the floor after being cut down.

The trees were planted in April 2022 as part of plans for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee celebrations that year.

Phil Turner, councillor responsible for Billericay West, said: “It is an outrageous act to try and shock and disgust the residents.

“Our trees were planted to mark HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee and have been systematically felled by a mechanical power saw.

“It is sad beyond belief, and those who did it are sad beyond belief. We will plant new trees, but it leaves a real sour taste.

“Back to At that Jubilee everyone was in good spirits, on a high, and it was such a memorable occasion.

“So, to do that to one of the memories is mindless.”

Mr Turner believes Basildon Council reported the incident to Essex Police.

He added: “We would like to find out who did this. If we do, they are heading for a criminal record.

“We want to find them and prosecute them and go through the court with them as we have had this before, across the borough.

“These are childish and mindless acts, so we need to deal with them and show people there are consequences.”

This is not the first time this has happened as in May 2022, one of the trees planted at South Green was snapped in half.

Jeff Henry, councillor for health, wellbeing, and arts and culture, said: “They clearly attacked the trees with tools of some kind. We are disgusted, the council has planted those trees in the park, and we have insane people who have ruined it all.

“We are going to have to the job of planting the trees twice and put cages around the new trees.

“The thing for me is that we put plaques in Victoria Park for the late queen, who gave 70 years of service for this country and they were destroyed too.

“We have so many fantastic people in the council and they really care about the area.”