One of the biggest stories from the announcement of British and Irish Lions squad was the selection of 20-year-old Henry Pollock.

The forward was one of four Northampton Saints players named in the 38-strong party for the tour of Australia.

His name and picture were greeted by loud cheers by the 2,000 fans inside Indigo, a venue within London's O2 Arena complex, in scenes very different from former Lions learned of their selection.

Winger Ian Hunter, who was picked for the 1993 Lions tour to New Zealand, said he discovered his selection "on Ceefax… sitting on my own starring at the TV, waiting for page one to move to page two".

Ceefax was a teletext service that allowed people to check the latest BBC news and sport via their televisions.

Hunter, 56, said he was not expecting his selection.

"Anyone who is there or thereabouts is always thinking 'What if?' but obviously when it came up it was an amazing experience," he said.

Northampton Saints posted a video on social media of the players watching the Lions squad announcement.

Despite the technological changes since he played, Hunter said he knew the emotions they were going through.

"It's the same feeling. Being picked for the Lions is the pinnacle of anyone's career," he said.

Hunter's tour with the Lions was cut short, after he injured his shoulder in the first match, but he added: "Just putting the jersey on… was a 'pinch me' moment… definitely my proudest moment."

'A journalist phoned me up'

Former Scotland forward Colin Deans was selected for the 1983 Lions tour to New Zealand.

The 70-year-old, who coached at Northampton Saints and lives in Northamptonshire, said he found out from a journalist who called him.

"There was no announcement. I think I got a letter two days later from the Lions," he said.

"It was one of the press who phoned me up and said 'Congratulations.'"

On Thursday's event, when the latest squad was announced, he said: "I think the Lions is becoming quite a successful financial animal; it was absolutely great."

He did not play in 1983 but then was made captain for the proposed 1986 tour of South Africa.

That did not go ahead due to a boycott of sports tours in the country because of apartheid.

Despite that, Deans was still at the captain's dinner on Wednesday evening and at the announcement event at the O2 the following day.

Deans said he was not surprised by Henry Pollock's selection.

"Pollock is one of those guys that rugby needs, he's brought this air of freshness… he's just unbelievable," he said.

The future of an ancient oak tree hangs in the balance after councillors deferred a decision to fell it.

The 60ft (18m) tree, which is more than 100 years old, was said to be the cause of subsidence at several properties in Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex, according to an engineer.

But despite damage caused to his home, nearby resident Rob Selwyn was among those urging Thurrock Council to spare it the chop.

The local authority's planning committee chose to delay a final decision on Thursday, saying it wanted more evidence before swinging the axe.

Rooted in the grounds of a listed building on South Hill, the tree is protected by a preservation order.

However, an engineer's report found it was causing "severe damage" to properties in Saffron Close, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Selwyn said he preferred lopping the tree and installing a barrier over felling it.

The 77-year-old's comments came despite cracks appearing both inside and outside his home.

"I don't want to see it cut down," he said. "If it's lopped, that would take back the branches and curb its growth.

"A metal barrier placed between my home and the roots of the tree would also help."

The tree survived a previous bid to fell it eight years ago over concerns about subsidence.

Thurrock Council's planning committee was told that if it did not act this time round, it could be liable for any damage.

But Conservative ward councillor Barry Johnson said evidence of damage caused by the tree was not a "proven fact".

More than 15 objections were also made against the tree's destruction.

Betty Beaumont, who lives nearby, said the tree was a "landmark for the village".

"When you're driving down from the flyover, you know you're home because you can see it, " she said.

Her concerns were echoed by Gary Collins, landlord of The Bell pub, who said the village would be lost without it.

He added: "There must be another way of solving the problem."

In a report made by the council's planning officers, the tree was deemed a "fine specimen that provided a "high level of amenity in the village".

However, the report concluded it must be axed.

"In normal circumstances, its removal would not be permitted," the author wrote.

"However, it is considered that it is likely that the tree is a contributory factor to the subsidence occurring at the property, and therefore its removal is justified."

Planning committee councillors did not follow the recommendations and voted to delay the decision to get more evidence.