Bid to save bypass-threatened 500-year-old Powys tree Published duration 28 August 2015

image copyright Treehunter.co.uk image caption Mervyn Jones said his family has looked after the oak tree for hundreds of years

Campaigners in Powys want the route of a £56m road altered to save a 500-year-old oak tree.

The Newtown bypass, aimed at easing congestion in the town, is subject to a public inquiry

Mervyn Jones owns the land the tree sits on and believes unless the road is built 15 metres away, the roots will be damaged and it will die.

A Welsh government spokesman said it is "aware of the issues" and is awaiting the outcome of the public inquiry.

Mr Jones told BBC Radio Wales: "We're not trying to stop the bypass, we just want to save the tree."

A campaign group on Facebook in support of saving the tree has 3,000 members.

The Welsh government spokesman said: "We are awaiting the outcome of a public inquiry. We will obviously give further consideration to the concerns raised."