The email, sent to dozens of councillors, state politicians, the Premier, media outlets and others, purports to be from Save Our Figs barrister Mark Preece.

Mr Preece declined to comment on the email yesterday.

Cr Shayne Connell, who works for a cancer charity, said the email was offensive.

‘‘As the regional manager of the leading cancer charity in NSW, obviously me and the many local cancer patients and carers feel very, very strongly about a comment like that,’’ he said.

The email was sent on Friday night in response to another email that was sent to the lengthy recipients list.

On Friday, someone wrote KILLER COOK 136 on the footpath outside the home of Cr Bob Cook.

Cr Cook said he was not concerned about the graffiti and did not report it to police.

Cr Cook is one of four councillors to receive a death threat in recent months.

He said the email purportedly from Mr Preece was a more serious matter.

Cr Connell, who has largely supported the protesters in their bid for further testing of the trees, said he was also disappointed with comments made by Newcastle District Court judge Margaret Sidis after she compared the felling of the figs to other disasters that have befallen the city including the Newcastle earthquake.

Cr Connell said it was worth remembering that 13 people died during the earthquake.

Ten figs fell before the end of work on Friday with the remaining four expected to get the chop this week.

A lemon-scented gum that was growing through one of the figs was also removed on Friday.

Newcastle Art Gallery was open over the weekend, but the library remained closed.