The setting of four magnificent ash trees at Barham Crematorium near Canterbury has for 60 years been the perfect spot for families to scatter the ashes of loved ones.

But now the cherished trees are diseased and dying and bosses say they may have to be felled.

The trees have contracted ash dieback, which is threatening the species across the country, putting them at risk of collapse.

Crematorium manager Darren Daughters admits it is a “sensitive issue”.

“They were planted when the site was developed in 1956 and have added greatly to the view from our terrace,” he said.

“But our tree experts have examined them carefully and said that unfortunately they are now at serious risk.

“We appreciate it is a sensitive issue because it is where ashes are often scattered by families.

“But there is no question of the ashes being disturbed because they are very quickly absorbed into the ground and that will continue.”

Mr Daughters says the arborists are making a desperate last bid to try to save the trees by cutting out the dead wood.

"There is no question of the ashes being disturbed because they are very quickly absorbed into the ground" - Darren Daughters

“Obviously, they don’t like cutting trees down and we hope they can save them,” he said.

“But if they can’t, we want to keep the stumps and see if something artistic can be created from them.”

Mr Daughters says the crematorium will invite ideas from the public on how they could be used.

“If they have to come down, we will talk to a wood carver to see what can be made from them,” he said.

Ash dieback was first identified in Britain in 2012 and is caused by a fungus called hymenoscyphus fraxineus.

It causes leaf loss, crown dieback and bark lesions in affected trees.

Once a tree is infected the disease is usually fatal, either directly, or indirectly by weakening the tree to the point where it succumbs more readily to attacks by other pests or pathogens, especially fungi.