A pub boss has defended the removal of four large trees in a beachside beer garden after coming under fire from critics.

Frank Thorley, who runs Thorley Taverns, which has 19 pubs in Thanet, admits he too is sad the mature trees had to go from The Pavilion in Broadstairs, but insists tree specialists had deemed them dangerous.

Instead, he says, new ones will be replanted in their place, but this may not happen until the autumn, which is the prime time for planting.

"If they are planted at other times they will need to be tended to daily and are more likely to have difficulties," he said.

"We can only do our best and the last thing we want to do is attract verbal altercations from people."

Mr Thorley, who has run pubs on the Isle since 1975, says he only found out the original trees - four large Scotch Pines - were dangerous after getting them checked by tree surgeons ahead of work to add beach hut seating to the garden, which is next to Viking Bay.

"We thought the seats would perk the place up, we have it in some of other other pub gardens," he said.

"The plans were approved and we had a tree surgeon down to examine the trees to check they were okay and he came back saying they were not, which was unexpected.

"He said they needed to be pulled down, they are dangerous and there is no alternative.

"We needed permission and so we wrote to the council on the basis that they will be replaced.

"We are as gutted as you..."

"The trees we've been recommended as replacements are called Liquid Amber."

Following their removal, social media was flooded with comments from people criticising the decision to take the trees down, with Mr Thorley's daughter forced to issue a statement on the matter.

In it, she said they had already spoken to a nursery about the replacement trees.

"They will obviously be planted in the same places, and the specific trees chosen have to be advised by the nursery and then approved by the council within the next seven days," she said.

"Please know we are as gutted as you that the original trees that were there are no more."

Wildlife Conservation Group in Thanet was one of the many critics voicing concerns on Facebook.

"Very sad to learn that the four beautiful trees in the beach garden have been removed," the group said.

"They really added character, beauty and structure to the view.

"They also provided important shade in the summer and habitat for wildlife.

"We even spotted a very rare bird known as a pied crow in them a few years ago.

"We have been informed replacements will be planted in autumn."

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