When Radiohead sang about Fake Plastic Trees, little did they expect their vision could become a reality in a seaside town.

Yet that was the fear when what appeared to be planning notices were pinned to the trunks of at least two trees in Folkestone, revealing proposals to cut them down and replace them with polyethylene replicas.

A resident who sent KentOnline a picture of one of the detailed signs, bearing logos of the district and county councils, described the decision as "crazy".

Fortunately, Kent County Council (KCC) has now confirmed the notices are in fact an elaborate hoax.

"Don't worry that's not real, it's a hoax," said a KCC spokesman when asked by KentOnline to comment.

The sign was originally placed on the historic willow tree, in the centre of Kingsnorth Gardens, near Folkestone Central station.

After this was removed, a second sign was pinned up on a tree just outside the park, which remained there when KentOnline visited yesterday.

Christopher Crofts, who visits the gardens once a week, was thrilled that the signs were all a practical joke.

"I would have been devastated," he said.

"The willow tree is an integral part of Kingsnorth Gardens and is part of its history.

"It would have been dreadful to put an imitation in its place."

It is not yet known who is behind the notices or what their motivation was.

The fake sign referred to a decision taken by Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) but suspicions where raised after the fraudsters used the authority's old logo going back to when the authority was called Shepway District Council.

The notices claimed the decision had been taken by Folkestone and Hythe District Council to remove the tree because "the maintenance cost of this tree exceeds its theoretical maximum positive valence".

It added the old willow would be replaced "in accordance with the Environmental Act 2021, with a sustainable, lifelike, polyethylene replica" and would be finished with "environmentally friendly paints produced in humane conditions".

The sign went on to say the initiative would "cut maintenance costs by approximately 40%" allowing further savings to be rolled out across the district and investing in the "sewage and drainage infrastructure".

Pranksters told residents the additional benefits would include "reduced plant litter, increased roadside safety, decreased soil mineral depletion, reduced industrial noise pollution during planned maintenance procedures and decreased pest disturbances".

It then adds: "As we ascertain the long-term viability of this initiative, we will look to expand its scope to include urban foliage, aquatic invertebrates, and small mammalian fauna."

The bogus planning notice has since been shared on social media groups sparking reaction among dismayed and shocked residents.

Rose Willcox said: "I'm sure this is a joke! Well I'm hoping it is."

Terry Reene, however, was more certain the sign was not genuine. He said: "It's a wind up, they are popping up all over. Quite funny some of them."

"It must be a hoax, there is no way the council would waste six drawing pins to put it up," joked Pia Baldwin.