A Coronation Street actor is among residents who are fighting to save a sycamore in Kentish Town from “tree haters”.

The tree in St Thomas’ Gardens cul-de-sac, off Queen’s Crescent, may be cut down by Camden Council after it was contacted by an insurance company. It is suspected it is causing subsidence to a nearby house.

However, residents have united in opposition and sent a petition and letters to the council.

Actor Peter Baldwin, who played Derek Wilton in Coronation Street, has lived near the tree for 40 years.

He said: “I feel that the council are acting willy-nilly without knowing it would do any good.”

Philip Kogan, 81, who has lived in the street for 39 years, said: “They’re going around massacring trees across the borough. Judging by the horrendous things they’re doing to trees they must be tree haters.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We have taken action in the past and reduced the tree in size and we are currently reviewing the proposed removal of the tree. We only remove trees as a last resort.”