MOVES to restore a town’s famous landmark to its former glory have been launched.

For years the avenue of cherry trees lining the main A684 road out of Northallerton and Romanby towards Bedale has been a source of great pride for the community, creating a guard of honour of pink blossom on either side of the road throughout late spring. But over the past few years disease and death has meant many of the glorious flowering cherries have been lost.

Now North Yorkshire County Councillor David Blades, with the backing of Romanby Parish Council, has used up to £3,000 from his locality budget, which is earmarked for the benefit of the local community, to buy and plant 35 new trees.

“These have been a local landmark for a long time, but they are quite a short-living tree and we have had to take so many out," he said.

"Many, many people contacted us to say how sad they were, so it became really important that we restored this impressive local landmark.

“With the help of Romanby parish council we have managed to replace 35 trees. At the moment they don’t look like very much, but over the years they will grow and re-create that wonderful landmark.

“More trees may have to be taken out over the next few years so we will probably need to replace more trees as time goes on. But it will be wonderful to recreate that avenue of trees.”