A TREE that shaded a young Agatha Christie during cricket matches in Torquay is under threat.

The world's bestselling crime writer is known to have spent time keeping score in the shadow of the old oak tree at Barton Cricket Club.

The tree is under threat from fungus, shedding bark and old age.

But Torbay Council's arboricultural experts are making a bid to save it.

Neil Coish, the council's senior arboricultural officer, has inspected the great oak and is working on a plan of action to save the tree, which is between 300 and 350 years old.

He stressed that the tree is not going to be removed. But he said some serious pruning will have to be carried out.

The oak, which is used as part of the Barton Cricket Club logo, will be reduced in mass by 20 to 30 per cent. This will see between two and three metres removed from the top of the branches.

Mr Coish said: "It is known as Agatha Christie's tree, but it is in decline.

"That does not mean it has reached the end of its life. These trees can be in decline for around 50 years.

"At the moment it is 300 to 350 years old. It could live for around 500 years.

"We are not going to remove it. We have been looking after it for at least 11 years. But we do need to reduce its mass.

"If we reduce it down there is less chance of it falling over."

The tree takes pride of place in the Cricketfield Road car park but has numerous 'decay fungal fruiting bodies' on its main trunk and root system.

Causing particular concern is some fast-growing fungus in the 'V' of the tree.

"This attacks the heart and the internals of the tree. We do not know what is going on inside," explained Mr Coish.

No work will be undertaken until November when the tree is in its dormant state.

Before any work takes place the iconic structure will be inspected by an expert in veteran tree management.