Greenock Crematorium will close for three days so that council workers can tackle a rare and deadly tree disease.

More than 100 trees will have to be chopped down after they were found to have Phytophthoria lateralis, a fungus-like pathogen which kills trees’ roots.

The crematorium will be closed between Saturday August 22 and Monday August 24. It will reopen on Tuesday August 25. Mourners will still be permitted to access the cemetery.

Inverclyde Council’s environment convener, Councillor Michael McCormick, said: “Until recently the disease was largely confined to Canada and the United States but was first detected in Scotland five years ago in Balloch Country Park.

“Unfortunately it can be spread very easily through contaminated soil and this is the second outbreak we have had to deal with in the past four years.

“We very much regret the inconvenience this will cause particularly to grieving families and friends but we really do have no other option.”

The council will chop down 90 Lawson Cypress Trees, 14 Spruce Trees and eight Pollard Mature Broadleaf Trees.

Biosecurity measures will be put in place to minimise the risk of the pathogen being spread from the site by staff but the pathogen poses no threat to the public or pets.

Inverclyde Council has been working closely with the Forestry Commission to tackle the outbreak.

A spokesman for Forestry Commission Scotland said: “We have visited Greenock Cemetery and Crematorium several times over the last few months and have identified that a number of Cypress trees in the area are infected with Phytophthoria lateralis.

“We have been working with woodland owners and managers across Scotland to help slow the spread and try to contain the disease. Unfortunately the only way to do this is to fell the infected trees.

“Felling infected trees takes place usually in the autumn and spring before they can generate more of the spores that spread the disease. This is a major part of successfully slowing the rate of spread and reducing the impacts of the disease on other trees and the wider environment.

“Inverclyde Council understand the importance of helping contain this disease. We are confident that they will carry out the work with as little disruption as possible.”

Councillor McCormick added: “We also need to carry out some additional felling to ensure that the remaining trees are safe and do not cause any danger to visitors or the nearby houses.

“There will be no cremations on the Saturday or Monday and local funeral directors have been notified.

“Due to the location of the works we have taken the decision to close the Book of Remembrance on the Sunday but this can still be viewed online or alternative arrangements for viewing can be made.

“We hope that the works will cause minimal disruption to visitors and also the bereaved.”