George Harrison’s memorial tree is destroyed by beetles

However a tree planted a decade ago in memory of George Harrison in a Los Angeles park has died - after being infested by beetles.

The sapling had rested the city’s Griffith Park near the observatory. Harrison, who died in 2001, spent his final days in the city.

City council officer, Tom LaBonge told the LA Times newspaper that the memorial had grown to more than 10 feet tall.

However the attack from tree beetles “overwhelmed it”.

He added that trees in Griffith Park have occasionally been the victims of bark beetles and ladybug beetles, among other tree-unfriendly creatures.

A new tree will be planted at a date yet to be decided.

A small plaque at the base of the tree reads: “In memory of a great humanitarian who touched the world as an artist, a musician and a gardener.”

It also quotes the guitarist and singer-songwriter himself: “For the forests to be green, each tree must be green.”

Harrison, who died from lung cancer in 2001 was the youngest member of the iconic band. Although John Lennon and Paul McCartney were the group’s most celebrated songwriters, Harrison’s work drew great plaudits, with him contributing heavily to the Liverpool band’s highly celebrated latter-day albums. Frank Sinatra famously remarking that his favourite Lennon-McCartney song was the Harrison-penned Something.

He went on to have a successful solo career with hits such as My Sweet Lord and All Things Must Pass.