�������t¶��

The pedunculate oak, which was cut down on 3 April, was located on the edge of an Enfield council-owned park in north London and overlooked the Toby Carvery pub.

The council leased the land on which the tree stood to the Toby Carvery.

Mitchells & Butlers, the owners of the Toby Carvery pub chain, said they cut down the tree after being told it was dead.

Then came a plot twist that few would expect - the owners of Toby Carvery, a family pub chain specialising in budget roast dinners which has a restaurant overlooking the tree, admitted that they felled it after receiving advice it was dead.

Toby Carvery's owner has apologised after the company felled an ancient oak tree and admitted "we need to tighten our protocols" in a letter seen by the BBC.