AN ancient avenue of oak trees in the heart of a village was given a new lease of life.

The 50 trees were planted on either side of Loughton Lane in Theydon Bois by the City of London and the parish council after the previous 170-year-old trees started dying.

Chairwoman of the City of London's Epping Forest Committee, Barbara Newman, said: “The Theydon avenue was identified as the highest priority among the many other avenues of trees that the City of London currently looks after.”

Some of the trees have been sponsored as memorials and details of these will be printed on an information board near the avenue.