SCREEN legend Dame Judi Dench has thrown her weight behind the fight to save the iconic umbrella tree in East Cowes.

She has written to the town council expressing her support and concern for the plight of the tree which has been declared diseased and is under threat of being cut down.

In the letter, Dame Judi, who filmed scenes from her film Victoria and Abdul at Osborne House in East Cowes, said how much she liked the towns of East Cowes and Cowes.

The film, in which she plays Queen Victoria, tells the story of the Queen's relationship with her Indian servant.

Dame Judi appeared in a BBC documentary Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees last year. She is the latest celebrity to show her support for the tree after wildlife presenter, Chris Packham, also voiced his concern it could be cut down.

The mayor of East Cowes, Cllr Peter Lloyd, told the County Press he had written back to Dame Judi thanking her for her support.

He added her letter had been forward to the IW Council for them to be made aware of her position.

He said: "She basically said the plight of the tree had been brought to her attention and the IW Council's intention to remove it.

"She just wanted to add her voice to resident's concerns. She did say she had spent several weeks here and she had become very fond of East Cowes and Cowes."

As previously reported, bosses at the IW Council say the tree is infected with a fungus which undermines its strength, despite claims by campaigners the tree poses no immediate risk to the public.

A report by the IW Council found the fungal infection was growing from the trunk of the tree, calling its entire stability into question.

Island Roads has said the safety of road users is its absolute priority but is looking to work with both councils to prolong the life of the tree.