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The ash tree is likely to be wiped out in Europe, according to the largest-ever survey of the species.

The trees are being killed off by the fungal disease ash-dieback along with an invasive beetle called the emerald ash borer.

"It's in at least 1000 different sites through the island and therefore it's almost impossible to eradicate," said plant ecologist Dr Peter Thomas, who conducted the research, but "there's always hope", he added.

(Image: Ash tree. Credit: Getty Images)