A RECORD-BREAKING £18,058 has been raised for Weldmar Hospicecare through its Christmas Treecycle initiative.

Businesses and residents once again came together to collect more than 1,600 trees from across Dorset for chipping in the annual fundraiser.

Money raised will help fund the hospice’s specialist end of life care for adults with a life limiting illness as well as support for their loved ones.

Weldmar fundraising lead Fiona Hansford, who heads up the Treecycle initiative, was blown away by this year’s effort.

“Weldmar’s Treecycle has become part of my Christmas tradition,” she added.

“It’s a fabulous community-spirited endeavour and I love going out and helping collect the trees along with all of our incredible volunteers, we couldn’t do this without their help.

“We are once again blown away by the amount of support we have had from the local community and local business, including our partners Trinity Street Christmas Trees who coordinated the logistics for the massive volunteer effort!”

The hospice also thanked Beaminster Motors, Bridport Town Council and Dorset County Showground for acting as drop-off points for collected trees.

“Thank you also to Magna Housing, Pipefix Ltd, Dorchester Plumbing Supplies Ltd. and David R White Builders who all kindly provided vehicles and volunteers to be part of the collection team,” a spokesperson added.

“Thank you to every resident who donated, every business who provided resources and manpower, and every volunteer who braved the post-Christmas weather to make this year the most successful to date.

“We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved together, we certainly couldn’t have done it without you!”