The Korean banyan is known locally as payom and is a symbol of the southern province.&nbsp;

The felled trees were planted two years ago along a 20-kilometre stretch of Tamot-Ban Pru Naikhao Road in Tamot district in honour of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

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Residents of Ban Pru Naikhao area told police they&rsquo;d seen several unknown people chopping the trees down with machetes.

Trees honouring late king chopped down in Phatthalung

CCTV recordings are being reviewed in a bid to find out who chopped down 300 Korean banyan trees lining a road in Phatthalung on Thursday night.