Richmond residents take note: the council is offering free Christmas tree collection and recycling.

From January 8 to 19, the council will begin collecting trees for free on the normal scheduled rubbish collection date for your street.

This service is free - you do not need a garden waste contract to have your tree recycled - but trees won’t be collected if they’re still decorated, not ‘real’, in soil or in a pot or stand.

Trees will then be shredded and turned into compost, which will be used to fertilise plants in gardens, green spaces and flowerpots across the borough.

Alternatively, Christmas trees can be taken to:

• Re-use and Recycling Centre, Townmead Road (pedestrian access is restricted)

• Barn Elms Sports Centre, SW13 0DG

• Squire's Garden Centre car park, Sixth Cross Road, TW2 5PA

• Old Deer Car Park, TW9 2RA

• Ham Street Car Park, TW10 7RS