WHAT could be the world’s biggest volunteer Christmas tree recycling service will soon swing back into action.

The house-to-house operation which covers 200 square miles is run entirely by helpers from East Cheshire Hospice who donate every penny collected to the charity.

A fleet of 30 vehicles will collect trees on Saturday and Sunday – an acclaimed service which last year raised £60,000 net for hospice funds.

Co-organiser Pete Chapman said: “We can’t find a similar collection anywhere that’s bigger than the collection we established many years ago.

“We were the first to carry out such a scheme, and have shared our experience and resources with at least 12 other hospices.”

Their collection service for East Cheshire Hospice is in its 13th year and has raised more than £400,000 for the charity.

Anyone who wants their tree collecting needs to book it in at echtrees.org.uk or by calling co-organiser Richard Raymond on 01625 612025.

The suggested minimum donation is £4, but many people donate more, and £15 could pay for a therapy session.

The team collected more than 4,500 spent trees last year and ground them into mulch before it was mixed into compost for recycling back into the soil.

Richard Raymond said: “We have a marvellous team of volunteers who work tirelessly to convert used Christmas trees into money for our local hospice. We look to the community once again to support our efforts and thank them for doing so.

“With the support of households throughout the post code areas of SK9, SK10, SK11, SK12 and WA16, and with the full backing of Cheshire East Council, the collection continues to be the route of choice for the disposal of unwanted Christmas trees after the festive season, so please book your trees in now.”