A TREE which has looked down on generations of Huddersfield schoolchildren was felled at the weekend.

The 100-year-old ash in the grounds of Almondbury Junior School was pulled down because of safety fears.

Residents launched a Facebook page called Save Almondbury Junior School Tree after learning last Monday that Kirklees Council planned to pull it down.

Tree consultant and ex-pupil Andrew Bussey said: “We found out at quite short notice and without much public consultation.”

But the campaign to save the tree was abandoned after Andrew inspected the tree on Friday.

The 35-year-old said: “The base is hollow so if it wasn’t pulled down it would’ve fallen down.

“It’s time was up. I just hope the school will plant another tree in its place.”

The Almondbury man, whose father, aunts and 14-year-old son John also attended the school, said the tree was special to former pupils.

“It’s in a very prominent position right in the centre of the playing fields,” he said.

“Every child who has ever gone to the school has stared out longingly at the tree on a sunny day.”

Andrew watched from his home on Southfield Road as the tree was pulled down on Saturday morning.

“It came down in one great crash. I felt very sad,” he said.