A Macclesfield family are helping to collect old Christmas trees.

Dozens of volunteers will be hitting the roads on the weekend of January 11 and 12 next year, collecting trees and raising money for East Cheshire Hospice.

Among them is Lee Fisher, who will be out and about touring in his van with his wife Alex and mum Judith.

Plasterer Lee first got involved in the charity initiative 12 years ago through a link with co-founder Pete Chapman.

"Pete's son Rob is one of my best mates and he went round collecting Christmas trees for charity one year," Lee said.

"That's how it all started and once I got a bigger transit van for work Rob collared me and said, 'you're doing this tree collection.'

"I was happy to help. It's my good deed for the year.

"I donate my van and don't even ask for a penny in fuel. Hiring vans is a big cost which would have to come out of the pot for the hospice."

Lee and the other volunteers will be travelling far and wide picking up trees for recycling in lieu of a donation to the East Cheshire Hospice.

The next collection marks the 25th anniversary of the award-winning scheme which provides vital funds for patient care.

The Fishers' route covers Prestbury, where Judith works part-time in the village pharmacy.

Lee's wife Alex, meanwhile, is an assistant head teacher at Dean Valley Community Primary School in Bollington.

Lee added: "I drive because Alex usually ends up doing some damage to the van. One year she drove into a pillar and that was pretty painful.

"Mum tells us where we're going and I jump out with Alex and put the trees in the back of the van.

"We drop them off for mulching at West Park.

"Donations are made online and we get a booklet with all the information. It's a good day and everyone is in high spirits.

"The scheme is extremely well run and Pete and his co-organiser Richard Raymond work so hard.

"The scheme won the Queen's Award the other year which was well deserved.

"I grew up at the back of the hospice. My gran used to knit blankets for them and our family know people who've been helped by the charity."

East Cheshire Hospice's Christmas tree collection covers postcode areas CW12, SK9, SK10, SK11, SK12 and WA15.

To register your tree for collection, visit www.echtrees.org.uk.