A disease that could kill thousands of oak trees has been identified in plants on sale in Sussex.

The Government ordered emergency action to protect native trees after plants imported from the United States were found to have the disease, sudden oak death.

The disease was first spotted in some viburnum plants on sale in Chichester and has been found at four other sites in England.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not named the garden centre.

The Forestry Commission believes oak trees in Britain are less susceptible to the disease than North American species.