GHOST stories, UFOs and being chased by lights - these were some of the host of memories people brought to Kingston Lacy.

Now that it has completed work to cut down 21 trees along the estate's famous two-and-a-half-mile Beech Avenue, the National Trust is busy recording people's memories.

The work on the B3082 at Wimborne Minster in August caused controversy, with some not agreeing with the Trust's reasons - which included disease, climate change and old age - for removing the trees.

But that didn't stop a host of people attending an oral archiving session at Kingston Lacy on Saturday and bringing with them some weird and wonderful stories.

Organiser Lindsay Winter, community and learning officer for the estate, said: "There were things we thought might crop up, and things we didn't, like ghost stories and tales of UFOs.

"Some talked about a black Roman dog seen walking along the Roman road which crosses the Beech Avenue near to Badbury Rings, others claimed they'd recently been followed by lights as they drove through the avenue.

"One person told us about the summer of 1976, when it was so hot everywhere and the only cool shade they found was under the canopies of the trees. It's magical to hear how people interact with the avenue in ways you never expect."

Lindsay said other discoveries included a photo of a boy in the 1950s walking between the trees and an oil painting from a Bournemouth woman aged in her 80s, apparently her first go at oil painting.

The contributions will make up an exhibition next year. The closing date for submissions is January 31. Send them to The Beech Avenue Celebrations, Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, BH21 4EA, or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/kingstonlacy.

The Trust is replacing the axed trees with Hornbeams, which it says will be better suited to the changing conditions at the avenue.