RECYCLING old Christmas trees has given Salisbury Hospice Charity a boost of more than £7,500 to support its vital services.

This year, more than 600 trees were recycled as part of the charity's collection campaign - more than doubling the amount collected last year.

The scheme, which was run in conjunction with the hospice's charity partner Just Helping, expanded the collection area to include all SP1 and SP2 postcodes and parts of SP3, SP4 and SP5.

Once the trees were collected they were chipped by tree surgeons James Ockenden and Gary Thompson and recycled at Rose Farm Hurdcott by permission of Geoff Goddard.

Salisbury Hospice has thanked all of its "wonderful" volunteers, UDrive Salisbury, Public Health England, TSB, James Hay, Neil Smith Builder, Pizza Hut Delivery Salisbury and Breeze Environmental for their "outstanding support".

Tamsin Murley, the community fundraiser for Salisbury Hospice Charity said: "I am delighted at the incredible success of this year’s Christmas Tree Collection campaign and would like to thank most sincerely, everyone who’s volunteered and helped us collect, chip and recycle over 600 trees, raising the incredible sum of over £7,500 for our hospice."

Every year, Salisbury Hospice cares for up to 1,000 people living with life-limiting illnesses.

All of its services are free of charge to everyone who uses them, including individuals, their families, loved ones and carers.

Annually Salisbury Hospice Charity needs to raise £1.5 million, over 60 per cent of the £2.4 million needed to maintain the vital palliative care services at the hospice.