Deadly tree disease ash dieback has officially made it to Cornwall, with a case reported near Camborne.

The disease has been found in saplings at a recently planted site, rather than in “the wider environment”, according to the Forestry Commission.

It is one of three cases in the county, with others confirmed near Wadebridge and Looe.

The disease causes leaf loss and usually leads to tree death.

It has been known to kill up to 90 per cent of a country’s ash trees.

While Cornwall has, to date, not been as affected as other parts of the country, farmers and landowners are being urged to keep their eyes open for suspected cases and report them immediately.

The disease is especially destructive of common ash, with Chalara dieback of ash particularly destructive of young ash plants, killing them within one growing season of symptoms becoming visible.

Older trees can survive initial attacks, but tend to succumb eventually after several seasons of infection.

The commission has said that the true extent of the problem would not be seen until the disease became active in spring.

It has caused widespread damage to ash tree populations in continental Europe since it was first reported as an unknown new disease in Poland in 1992.

Any suspected cases should be reported to the Forestry Commission via the tree alert form on www.forestry.gov.uk.