A popular service helping local people with the after Christmas clean-up will return to Newton Aycliffe this January. On Saturday 7th January teams from Darlington Rotary Club hope to collect over one thousand discarded trees from local households in return for a suggested donation of £5, which goes to support St Teresa’s Hospice and other Rotary charities. “We have fleet of vans and a 50 strong army of volunteers on standby to beat last year’s record 1000 trees collected, raising over £5500 for the hospice,” said Rotary organiser David Hayward.

Hospice Director Jane Bradshaw added: “The Christmas Tree Collection Service is a fantastic opportunity for everyone in the area. By collecting trees straight from people’s homes, our volunteers make the Christmas clean-up so much easier, and it gives everyone a chance to help St Teresa’s Hospice and other Rotary charities.” The service is available to people living across Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and the surrounding area. To book your Christmas tree for collection, visit www. darlingtonhospice.org.uk or call 01325 254321.