Christmas trees in Colchester could help raise money for charity after their traditional festive decorative role is complete.

St Helena Hospice, in partnership with Colchester Borough Council, is once again running its Christmas tree-cycle for two days in January.

A dedicate team of volunteers will run the scheme, picking up Christmas trees and disposing of them in return for a donation to the hospice.

Chloe Winter, fundraising partnerships manager at St Helena Hospice, said: “The Christmas tree collection is great way to support St Helena Hospice.

“You can make a donation in return for an amazing service that will save you the time and hassle of disposing of your Christmas tree in the New Year.

“We are extremely grateful to Colchester Borough Council for recycling the Christmas trees and being so supportive of our fundraising efforts.”

Trees can be collected from homes in the CO1 to CO7 postcode areas over January 9-10, and people can book a collection time now.

Once collected Colchester Borough Council will recycle the trees.

The suggested minimum donation is £5.

Dominic Graham, borough councillor for street and waste services, said: “We are only too pleased to once again support St Helena Hospice by recycling the Christmas trees they collect as part of their fundraising efforts.

“With all the extra recycling residents have to dispose of at this busy time of year, the charity collection is a great, hassle-free way to get even more from your real tree.

“I hope even more residents go online to donate and book a collection.”

The hospice relies on funding from the community to raise the £8.7million it needs each year to provide its services for free.

For full information, including a list of postcodes covered by the scheme and to book a collection, visit www.sthelenahospice.org.uk/treecollect16.

People with a particularly large tree, or anyone with a van who can volunteer to help collect trees, should call 01206 931468.