A deadly beetle claimed its first high-profile victim of the summer with the felling of a disease-ridden tree in a city park.

The tree, one of the 25m elms bordering Preston Park in Brighton, was infected with elm disease spread by the 8mm elm bark beetle.

Sussex is renowned as the best place to see elms in England after many were saved from the epidemic in the Seventies.

But officers at Brighton and Hove City Council have received nearly 400 reports of elm infections in the past few weeks and fear the city's entire 17,000 elm collection could be at risk unless action is taken swiftly.

Yesterday's felling was carried out in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading.

The council will not know until at least the end of the summer whether it has worked.

Later this month a fake beetle scent developed by scientists at the University of Sussex will be placed in 60 traps on the western boundary of the city to monitor the number of beetles and their movements.

The synthetic pheromone has not been used for 20 years. But officers are so concerned about the risks of a new elm disease epidemic they have ordered a fresh batch of the scent along with several traps, which they hope residents will agree to install in their gardens.

Residents have been asked to look for early signs of elm disease. The council's arboricultural team can be contacted on 01273 292187.