A 200-year-old tree may now have to be felled after a campfire during lockdown destroyed it.

The beech tree - in Captain's Wood, Chesham - was seriously damaged when a fire was lit at the base of it over the weekend (May 2).

Police are apparently treating the fire as an arson attack.

Five firefighters spent all day on Saturday trying to put the blaze out - but the Chiltern Society said at around 5pm that same day, it was still smouldering around 20 feet up the hollow.

ALSO READ: IN THE DOCK: Weekly round-up of hearings at Wycombe Magistrates' Court

The society - which manages Captain's Wood, an ancient beech woodland - said the tree may now have to be chopped down for safety reasons because it is on a well-used footpath.

It could cost more than £2,000.

The society said: "It's not just the cost to the charity, but this old hollow tree was probably one of the most important trees for wildlife in the wood.

"The police aren't hopeful of catching anyone.

"Doing this has put volunteers, charity staff, police and firemen at risk, when we should have been at home.

"It's heartbreaking to think we may have to chop it down."

ALSO READ: Car fire damages High Wycombe property in the early hours of Sunday morning

The conservation charity said it would try its hardest to keep the tree, but experts so far think this may be impossible.

Residents and regular walkers in Captain's Wood were furious at the "mindless idiots" who damaged the tree.

Pauline Mann said: "This is so sad.What sort of idiots are doing this especially at this time.

"Emergency services have enough to do without having to be dealing with this. Someone must know something."

Lisa Burden added: "Wow that is an awful shame. We live right next to the woods and me and my family have played around and walked passed this tree every day for the past six weeks and many more in the last three years.

"They play around it and have used the tree as a great imaginative story telling game.

"Such a horrid thing to do and such a nonsense act."