More than 1,300 trees have been felled as the UK's first outbreak zone for the Asian longhorn beetle is extended.

Larvae have been discovered in a tree after it was chopped down, meaning the infested zone has been increased by 100m at its most northerly point.

An area around Paddock Wood has been targeted for felling after the beetle, which is not dangerous to humans, was found in trees there.

Originally discovered in China, the beetle has been moving around the world hidden in timber imported from the country.

It has killed millions of poplar trees trees there, and in the USA hundreds of millions of dollars has been spent eradicating the pest.

In Kent, 65 trees in the zone have been found to be infested, with hundreds of affected or potentially diseased trees felled.

They are now due to be burnt this week.

The most recent findings have been of young larvae, so would not have developed into adult beetles and flown off.

It's hoped the outbreak can be contained and eradicated, although more work is needed to confirm this.

The beetles are large (20 - 40mm long) and distinctive, being a shiny black colour with white markings.

They also have very long black antennae ringed with pale blue or white markings.

The adult beetles scrape away a portion of bark on a host tree to lay their eggs just underneath.

Their life cycle is around two years or more, with beetles emerging from trees as adults, before mating and dying.

When the larvae hatch, they feed by boring in the main trunk and branches. This makes them difficult to detect.

The most obvious symptoms of Asian longhorn beetle damage are the circular adult exit holes which are around 10 mm in diameter and are generally found in the main trunk and branches.

To report a possible sighting of the beetle, which can be found in such species as acer, willow, hazel, beech, ash and elm, contact the Fera Plant Health Helpline 0844 2480071 or email planthealth.info@fera.gsi.gov.uk.