Dawn wins fight to chop protected oak she fears could crush her £3m mansion

COMEDIAN Dawn French has been given the green light to cut down a protected tree over fears it may crush her £3million mansion.

The TV star asked her local council if she could fell the oak at Point Neptune estate which she claims is in a “poor condition”.

Conservationists had tried to halt the funny lady’s bid, claiming that the loss would damage the surrounding coastal area.

But Dawn got the all-clear if she plants a new tree to replace it.

TheVicar Of Dibley star bought the 40-room, Grade II-listed mansion, with her first husband Sir Lenny Henry, 61, in 2006.

The 62-year-old kept it after her 25-year marriage broke down in 2010 and the star now lives there with second husband Mark Bignell, 54, a charity worker.

The house, in the Italianate style, overlooks Readymoney beach in Fowey, Cornwall. Daphne du Maurier lived nearby and the area is said to have inspired novel Frenchman’s Creek.

Planning documents submitted to Cornwall Council said that the tree posed an “increased risk” to her and her husband.

But council tree officer Nick Cooper said its loss would have “impacts upon public visual amenity”. He added: “I would recommend that a new holm oak be established on site to limit long-term impacts of the future loss of the remaining part of this tree and to preserve the amenity of the local landscape.”

Above, Dawn French and, right, the oak tree, circled, that could crush the Vicar Of Dibley star’s home