TREES across Stourbridge are being hit by a mystery disease according to a Norton tree consultant.

Matt Rogers says in the last few weeks he has had to cut down around a dozen false acacia trees (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’) hit by the problem - which the Royal Horticultural Society says there is no control for.

And he has given out quotes to a host of other worried gardeners - concerned about the sickly state of their prized trees, which could be the result of a wilt fungus often associated with wet weather conditions.

Mr Rogers, managing director of Absolute Tree Solutions, said: "It's killed off quite a few trees in Stourbridge; I've cut down 11 or 12 and given out quotes for a lot more.

"There's no control for it. It's a shame; they're very attractive trees.

"It's widespread across the country, but Stourbridge has got a lot of upmarket estates so you get more of these stately trees here.

"It's only affecting the yellow leaf species at the moment, which have been dropping leaves as early as June - and they shouldn't really be doing this till autumn. And the remaining branches are becoming brittle and are likely to collapse.

"I just want to make people aware of it so that people can monitor their trees and beware of possible falling branches.”

A spokesman for Dudley Council said: “We are aware of the national problem affecting a specific cultivar of the robinia genera.

“We have experienced some of these symptoms in the Dudley borough and we are monitoring the situation.”

Native to North America, the false acacia tree was introduced to Europe by Jean Robin in 1601 - and its wood has been used to produce masts in the ship building industry.

The Royal Horticultural Society says it remains unclear as to what is causing the problem with the popular tree, although symptoms are consistent with a wilt fungus which is more prevalent in wet weather and which affects the water carrying vessels in the trunk - starving the tree of nutrients.

Investigations are currently being carried out to try and identify the cause and major contributing factors - and people are encouraged to send in samples of their ailing trees to help with further research.