THE first outbreak of a fungus-like disease in Yorkshire, which causes extensive damage and death to a wide range of trees and other plants, has been been confirmed.

Scientists said the infestation of phytophthora ramorum, also known as Sudden Oak Death and Larch Tree Disease - as larch trees are particularly susceptible - had initially been suspected following aerial surveillance by the Forestry Commission's tree health team at Yearsley Woods, close to the North York Moors National Park, near Thirsk.

A report to the park's Primary Land User Group states site investigations and laboratory tests had verified the presence of the disease.

Crispin Thorn, area director for the Forestry Commission in Yorkshire and the North East, said to prevent the disease, which has hit several regions of the country after being found at a garden centre in Sussex in 2002, spreading the symptomatic trees were being felled.

He said it was critical that the forestry sector worked together to limit the spreads of pathogens in the area.

In 2013, surveys in Wales found the disease had spread more quickly than expected following a wet and warm winter, allowing the disease spores to travel to other trees, leaving 6,600 hectares of woodland infected.

Diseased trees across an area the size of around 300 football pitches were subsequently felled at Wentwood Forest, Wales' largest ancient woodland.

Conservationists in previously affected areas as tackling the disease is difficult, they had launched strategies to slow down its spread.

The confirmation comes several years after the Forestry Commission started flying over major forests such as Cropton and Dalby, near Pickering, as well as the Yorkshire Dales, Cleveland, Hambleton and Howardian Hills in an attempt to spot signs of the disease.

Mr Thorn said: "The level of infection is currently low, with only six trees showing symptoms of the disease.

"The total woodland area [at Yearsley] is 543 hectares with larch covering approximately 168 hectares.

"As part of our response to identifying the disease we are looking to schedule a further follow up aerial survey of the woodlands in the area to ascertain any signs of further infection."

Mr Thorn said the disease, could kill larch - one of the most common trees in the national park - very quickly, while rhododendron also suffered from the disease.

He said: "Larch can produce exceptionally high numbers of spores from infected foliage, by which the disease can spread to other host plants."