FOREST workers and visitors across south Devon and the rest of the county are being urged to watch for the ash dieback disease which is threatening to wipe out the nation's stock of 80 million trees.

No outbreaks of the devastating fungal condition have yet been reported in the county after last week's revelation that sites in Suffolk, Norfolk and Kent had been hit.

The Forestry Commission, which manages 3,500 acres of woodland at Haldon Forest Park has already set up a hotline for anyone spotting signs of the chalara fraxinea fungus which attacks vulnerable ashes.

The Forestry Research Centre number to ring in case of concerns is 01420 23000.