A NORTH Yorkshire landowner has spoken out about a disease which is threatening to devastate British woodlands.

In a letter to The Times, Sir Richard Storey, of Settrington, described ash dieback as ten times worse than Dutch elm disease and said its spread would result in the wholesale destruction of woods.

He called on the environment secretary to commission scientists to find a cure.

As previously reported, the disease has been confirmed in North and East Yorkshire with cases of Chalara or ash dieback confirmed in woodlands at a recently planted site near York, just north of Tadcaster, and at another site between Thirsk and Masham.

Infection was also been confirmed north of Market Weighton and on the coast between Bridlington and Hornsea.