An investigation into how the top of a tree in a leafy Hove suburb was hacked off has been launched. The tree, on the corner of Shirley Drive and Tredcroft Road in Hove, was “vandalised” at some point over the last few weeks. Images from Streetview show this is not the first time it has been hacked back. Councillor Alan Robins, cabinet member for recreation, said: “We are looking into an incident of tree vandalism in the area of Tongdean Avenue and Shirley Drive. “The tree’s canopy has been completely removed and is being treated as criminal damage.