DOES your old Christmas tree linger in the garden until about springtime, then shed its sad, brown needles all over the car when you finally get around to taking it to the tip?

Well it needn’t this year.

Staff and volunteers from St Luke’s Hospice are once again offering a Christmas tree collection service, in exchange for a donation of your choice, to raise vital funds for patient care.

In January, more than 60 volunteers and staff will be working together to collect thousands of used Christmas trees from homes all over Cheshire.

Last year they were able to raise more than £40,000 in donations for the hospice, and this year, they’re aiming to do even better.

Since they started running the service 12 years ago, they’ve have collected a staggering 27,983 trees and raised an amazing £430,081.

Jane Thompson, head of events at St Luke’s, said: “Every year we seem to get a better response to our tree collection, and this year we hope it’s our biggest yet.

“We are delighted to receive so much support from the local community, whether that’s through donations or the dedicated volunteers working tirelessly throughout the weekend to make sure everyone’s tree is responsibly recycled.

“Not only do we save you a trip to the tip, needles in your car, or space in your green bin, but the trees are responsibly recycled into chippings for use in the local community.

“Plus, it’s a wonderful new year fundraising boost for the hospice.

“It’s a win-win!”

The tree collection is run in conjunction with volunteer coordinating service, Just Helping, and is been sponsored by Howden Insurance.

You can register for your Christmas tree collection on the hospice's website.

James Bull, Howden Northwich branch manager, said: “We pride ourselves in being part of the community and we’re delighted to support the Christmas tree collection for another year.

“We know it raises vital funds for the Hospice at an otherwise quiet time of year for fundraising, and we’d urge all local people with a real tree to get signed up.”