A HUNT has been launched for vandals who hacked down up to a dozen 40ft trees in one of Southampton's most popular green spaces.

Tree experts say youths put themselves at "very great risk" of being seriously injured or even killed during a night of vandalism in Sholing.

Three silver birches and at least nine sycamore trees were chopped down by youths during the attack at the Shorburr Greenway - a stretch of parkland which connects Bursledon and Weston Shore.

The attack took place on a stretch of common in the parkway, which backs on to Alfriston Gardens near Sholing and is a popular spot with dog walkers.

The trees - all between 20 and 30 years old - were hewn down by the vandals using axes and saws.

Tree experts at Southampton City Council say it could be years before trees grow back to fill in the gaps caused by the attack.

The felled trees were discovered by Nick Sheppard, 36, of Chapel Crescent, who was out walking his dog Dennis when he noticed the damage.

He said: "I took my dog for a walk and I noticed some trees had been felled.

"I thought it was strange. I first thought it was something to do with the council.

"It is just senseless vandalism. If they scratch a car, it takes a few seconds. But this must have taken a whole night to do. It is just hurtful."

Mary Carnegie of the Sholing Environmental Group, which helps to look after the parkland, told the Daily Echo that at least a dozen trees had been felled

during the attack.

She said: "I am incensed really. The council does not have any money to spend on this area and we look after it along with

volunteers. We get no funding.

"We work very hard as a small group and are at the moment trying to make the paths more accessible.

"It is just demoralising. I am just so angry about it all."

Southampton City Council

senior tree officer Mike Harris said: "It is a great risk to (the vandals') health and to the health of the public in general.

"All trees which are on council land are treated as if they are protected.

"We have had other incidents in the past where significant trees have been felled, but it is difficult to catch the culprits.

"Silver birches and sycamores of that height take between 20 and 30 years to grow. It can take some time before new trees come to fill the gap.

"It is likely that natural regeneration will establish new growth there more quickly. We will check within about a year to see what has grown."