A 300-year-old protected Aleppo Pine tree, located in an area known as Il-Ballut tal-Imġiebaħ, in Mellieħa, was damaged after it was set on fire by unknown persons over the past days.

The Mellieħa council condemned the "cowardly attack" and said it was in contact with the Agriculture Department in a bid to try to save the tree. Department officials will be on site today to establish the extent of the damage.

The council called on people with any information about the incident to pass it on to the authorities.

The police are investigating.