A CHRISTMAS tree collection is being organised to support local charities.

Middlewich Round Table was preparing to pick up trees today for St Luke's but unfortunately the hospice has cancelled its collection due to the pandemic.

A hospice spokesman said: "We are so sad to have come to this decision. We feel the risk of going ahead with the tree collection is too great to our staff and volunteers in light of the increasing transmission of Covid-19 and the number of people hospitalised.

"This is a devastating blow for the hospice after an extremely challenging year for fundraising. The Christmas tree collection is one of our biggest annual campaigns generating vital funds which we rely on to continue to provide our care.

"We have received a very positive and understanding reaction from the community with so many people allowing us to keep their donation."

The event raised £36,000 for St Luke's last year after volunteers collected 3,000 trees across Cheshire.

Josh Hicks, from Middlewich Round Table said: "As we are a charity we decided we would offer to collect trees but we can only offer this service within CW10 only.

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Northwich Guardian:

Roof Plus has offered to donate vans for the Middlewich Round Table Christmas tree collection

"All the money raised is for local charitable causes and after a hard year for us, a charity is a good opportunity to raise some much-needed money.

"All necessary Covid safety measures are taking place. We have a company who is lending us the vans called Roof Plus."

Registration closes at 5pm tomorrow, Friday, and trees need to be on the roadside for 8am on Saturday, January 16.

To register visit https://ww2.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy-tickets/middlewich-round-table-tree-collection or  Middlewich Round Table on Facebook.