Households are being encouraged to give a gift to the environment and recycle their Christmas trees.

Real Christmas trees will be shredded across Borehamwood and Potters Bar for free, so they can be reused as mulch in parks and green spaces.

Shredding will be available between 11am and 2pm on January 5 at Oakmere car park in Potters Bar, January 7 at The Venue car park in Borehamwood, and on January 8 at Newberries car park in Radlett.

Councillor Jean Heywood, responsible for environment, explained: "Many people recycle their waste through the year which is great but we need to make an extra effort during the festive season when around 30 per cent more waste accumulates in people’s homes.”