A CHRISTMAS tree collection service run by a Herefordshire hospice has raised more than £12,000 - it’s best year to date.

A small team of collectors from the Hereford-based charity spent the New Year picking up over 1,100 real trees from homes across the county.

The festive items were then taken to Quickskip Recycling in Hereford to be chipped.

"We would like to thank everyone who has supported our tree collection service," said Matt Ashcroft, the Hospice’s events and community fundraising manager.

"This year, we’ve been able to reach more people than before, thanks in no small part to our friends at ABE Ledbury who have picked up many of the trees in the east of the county and, for the first time this year, enabled us to collect from some addresses in Worcestershire," Matt said.

"Alongside the £10 pick-up cost, many of our supporters have added donations on top, which is so generous of them, particularly at a time of the year when money is very tight."

The money raised will help St Michael’s continue to provide free of charge palliative and end-of-life care to families across Herefordshire and beyond.

You can support St Michael’s by taking part in their spring events programme.

For more details, click here https://www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/events/