AN historic tree planted by Sir Edward Elgar is now flourishing - and controversial plans to clone it have been shelved.

Planted in Arundel Drive, Battenhall, in 1928, the mulberry tree has survived a lightning strike, which split the trunk almost to the base, and a fungal infection, and tree surgery, which went wrong.

In May 2004, Worcester City Council's Planning Manager, Peter Yates said the long-term plan was to take a cutting and save the essence of the tree.

But this upset residents who want the city council to nurture the original.

Retired headmaster David Simms said this week that the tree was flourishing and should not be removed - a plan he still fears the city council is considering. "It's being totally ignored by the council. It does not exist as far as they are concerned."

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with it - it's flourishing and covered in beautiful leaves. There is a long-term plan to take a cutting and relocate the tree but there is no need - it's doing fine."

He wants a replacement plaque to be installed, and the council to spend money caring for the tree, which is in a private garden.

"It could be a bit of a nuisance for the people who live behind it, but there is precious little left of Elgar's heritage left, and what there is must be saved," added Mr Simms.

Principal conservation officer at the council, Will Scott, said cloning the tree was a good idea, but there were no current plans.

"We would very much like to see the tree remain, and I would like to keep it going.

"It's a good idea to clone the tree - perhaps in a joint project with Pershore College in the future - but there are no plans at the moment.

"If we cloned the tree we could keep its genes as a bit of insurance for the future."

Mr Scott said responsibility for the historic tree's upkeep was the garden's owner, not the council.