A MEMORIAL tree planted at the Nothe Gardens in Weymouth has been repeatedly damaged - apparently by council gardeners.

Violet Beasley, 85, planted the Canadian maple tree six years ago in memory of her late husband Joe, along with a plaque, rosemary bush, flowers and wire edging to protect it, but everything has been harmed in some way.

Mrs Beasley, of Wyke Regis, Weymouth, said: "My tree has been badly damaged one way or another several times, not by vandals or yobbos but by, I suspect, the gardeners. "The plaque was so badly damaged that I put a stone there instead inscribed with the words 'In memory of Joe Beasley, much loved husband, father and grandfather'.

"On inspecting the stone on my next visit everything was fine and I'd also planted a rosemary bush which was growing nicely.

"But I visited the tree last week only to find that the rosemary bush had been chopped down, and only this week I found that the nice, white wire edging I'd newly put around the tree was squashed in on one side.

"Luckily a passer-by saw my distress and put it straight for me. I've had flowers around the tree too but they were killed with weed killer."

Mrs Beasley, who has lived in the Weymouth area for more than 60 years, said it was an ongoing problem.

Parks and open spaces officer at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council David Painter said: "People are invited to put what they want around the memorial trees such as flowers or a fence and we try to go with that.

"But to keep it tidy we try and mow as close to the tree as possible so it could have been knocked accidentally while we were mowing."

Mrs Beasley, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, said that caring for the tree is proving too much for her and she is looking for someone who could spare a few hours a week to help her.

Anyone who can help is asked to call Mrs Beasley on (01305) 774092.