TWENTY-five Christmas trees have appeared to spread some festive cheer and raise funds for a children’s hospice.

The trees were given to businesses and organisations to help them celebrate Christmas and join in the #AJigsawChristmas campaign ran by Jigsaw Children's Hospice.

People can visit their nearest tree, make a donation in person or online, snap a selfie and share it using the #AJigsawChristmas hashtag. If you can't get to one of the trees, you can take a selfie with their own decorations and donate online.

The 12ft-tall trees were all donated by the Rotary Club of Carlisle with the aim of highlighting the fact that Jigsaw is the only children's hospice in the county.

Jigsaw offers day-to-day care, support and activities to children and young people living with a life-limiting illness from across Cumbria and south west Scotland. Sixty-four per cent of children and families they support come from the rest of Cumbria.

Among those to receive a tree in the Barrow area was Thornleigh Christian Hotel in Grange-over-Sands.

General manager Jane Walmsley said: “As a charity ourselves we knew our guests would love to support a local charity, especially Jigsaw at this special time of the year.

“Thornleigh has a reputation to uphold with their Christmas lights display so to have a 12ft Christmas tree bedecked in lights adorning the front of the hotel and supporting a worthwhile charity was a match made in heaven.

“The word on the streets in Grange-over-Sands is Thornleigh looks great and the collection box is jingling with donations.”

Rae Peacock of St Bernard’s Catholic High School in Barrow said: “This has been a lovely addition to our festive decorations in school.

“The students have loved decorating it. It has lifted the festive spirit in what has been a difficult term and also the previous few years.

Rachel Slattery, headteacher at George Hastwell School in Barrow, said: “We were excited to receive the tree, pupils and staff were surprised and delighted when they saw how big it was.

“It was erected taking pride of place at the front of school on December 1. Sadly it took a bit of a battering in the high winds as it was outside the front entrance.

“We will be splitting the proceeds from our Christmas fayre between Jigsaw and outside play equipment for the pupils in school.”