Tree surgeons were surprised to find two First World War cast-iron stove pipes trapped inside a 300-year-old beech tree.

They were discovered by Rick Bradley, 42, and Ross Greenwood, 24, when working in Maresfield Park, Uckfield.

The tree surgeons were called after part of the tree had collapsed into a nearby garden.

Soon after cutting in to the tree, sparks started flying as the chainsaw hit metal.

Already something of an oddity due to its unusual feature of two trunks fused together, they were amazed to discover that each trunk had its own six-inch diameter pipe.

The pipes are thought to date back to the Great War and the last days of the cavalry when Maresfield park was a military training camp. The farrier probably had his brazier under the tree.

Rick said: "I can't believe a tree could grow round it in such a short space of time. I have never seen anything like this before."

About 50 tons of wood had to be removed from the tree before it was safe leaving 30ft still standing, with pipes inside, as a fascinating reminder of local history.