Four out of five ash trees in Highgate Cemetery could be killed by a virulent disease - leading to safety concerns at the historic beauty spot.

Ash trees in the cemetery - where figures such as Karl Marx, novelist George Eliot and pop legend George Michael are buried - are being attacked by ash dieback.

The north London beauty spot is visited by around 80,000 people each year, and the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, which owns and manages it, has warned weakened trees may have to be felled or removed.

The trust's head of operations Guinevere Short said: ‘We could lose up to four out of five ash trees.

"This would have a devastating impact on the appearance of the cemetery landscape and on wildlife.

"There a number of species that depend entirely on ash trees and we want to retain their habitat as much as possible."

The disease was first noted in the cemetery in 2019, and the trust has now published an ash dieback management plan setting out how it will deal with the devastating disease.

The trust hopes to retain as many trees as possible but, said this may prove difficult if branches are brittle and likely to fall.

Fears are people or memorial could get hurt if ash trees aren't treated or felledFears are people or memorial could get hurt if ash trees aren't treated or felled (Image: Highgate Cemetery)

Ms Short added: "Seeing trees being removed is difficult for everyone and our team finds it especially hard. But we can’t ignore the consequences of falling trees for the safety of visitors and our significant memorials."

Ash dieback is caused by a fungus called hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which originated in Asia and spread to Europe via the global plant trade.

The fungus spreads quickly on the wind. It attacks the trees' roots, but causes the crown to die back, often resulting in death.

Trust chief executive Ian Dungavell said at the first sign of the disease they will reduce the crown and if that is unsuccessful, they will try pollarding the tree "down to a health growth point".

He said ash dieback may be driven in part by the climate crisis, with mild, wet winters creating ideal conditions for disease to spread, and drought, flooding and high temperatures making trees more vulnerable to disease.

For more information about ash dieback at Highgate Cemetery, visit: https://highgatecemetery.org/explore/ash-dieback