PHILISTINES burn cultural works, but Winchester City Council is hoping to do the opposite and turn firewood into art.

It has invited Hyde Sculptures Group, based in the city, to weave its magic on trunks and branches. The wood is being collected from a line of poplar trees on council land at North Walls Recreation Ground in Winchester.

Several branches from the specimens have fallen off in recent weeks and landed on sports pitches nearby.

The problem was identified during a council survey to check the safety of around 6,000 trees across the district.

The authority has now decided to reduce the size of the recreation ground specimens, which are near Winchester Rugby Club's pavilion.

The work is due to start on Monday and is expected to last several days. Smaller branches taken from the trees will be mulched on site, and then scattered on council flowerbeds.

The larger ones will be handed to the sculpture group, who will turn the surplus wood into art at the recreation ground.

Council cabinet member for planning, Cllr Frank Pearson, added: "It always saddens me when we have to carry out major work to trees, as they are such an important part of the overall street scene in the city.

"However, we know this work is unavoidable and is required for safety reasons, and at the same time it will help preserve the trees for future enjoyment.

"I am also delighted we can re-use the material to help conserve our flower beds and provide sculptures to enhance our city."

* The council removed a large willow tree in Abbey Gardens, Winchester, earlier this week. The specimen had a disease known as honey fungus, which made its branches brittle and unsafe. The council plans to replace it with two swamp cypress trees, which will be planted in the winter.