Is this Shropshire's oldest Christmas tree?

Christ Church Wellington, off New Church Road, will be opening its doors for the annual event today, and then every Tuesday until Christmas.

Church secretary Dill Buchanan said: "One of the trees that will be on display may be the oldest tree in Telford as it was bought, we understand, in 1936. It belongs to a lady who has had it in her family since that time.

"Is this the oldest artificial tree in Wellington? We would be interested to hear from anyone who believes they have one that is older."

Mrs Buchanan said that the festival attracted many different types of trees from across the town, and was becoming a real community event.

"One tree was from special education adult students who had made all their own decorations, and another was from the KIP homeless project in Wellington," she said.

"We will be getting at least one from the Severn Hospice, which is decorated by their day patients, and other groups like the local schools, Telford College, Brownies and Octavia Court usually join in as well.

"It's a lot bigger than just the church now. It's becoming a proper community event involving people from all parts of the local area."

The church will be open from 10am-2pm for people to see the trees, buy refreshments and visit seasonal stalls, and will then be open every Tuesday in December from 11am to 1pm.

Mrs Buchanan said: "Last year there were 25 Christmas trees and some of them were very unusual. We had one made of Suffolk Puff cushions and one made of decorated plastic bottles. This year we are expecting even more trees."

For more information about the festival or about how to include a Christmas tree in the display, email Dill Buchanan at secretary@oneparish.org or visit www.oneparish.org