Newly-planted trees in Welwyn Garden City have been vandalised for the second time in a year.
Police have been alerted after four cherry blossom trees, halfway along Digswell Road, were snapped.
They were planted in the winter of 2012 and 2013.
Councillor Helen Bromley, who is responsible for environmental services at Welwyn Hatfield Council, said: “Along with many residents, I am extremely disappointed that this has happened.
“We took the decision to replace a number of cherry trees there when they were vandalised a year ago.
“By the spring we had received many compliments on the blossom display of the young trees.
“The disappointment comes not only from the extra expense this mindless vandalism costs to rectify, but the time, energy and resources the council has committed to this tree planting scheme for the benefit of all.
“Each time a tree is vandalised it sets the scheme as a whole back another year as tree planting is only undertaken in the dormant winter season.”