UNWANTED Christmas trees can be disposed of in an eco friendly way thanks to Cotswold District Council.

As in previous years the council has arranged for real Christmas trees to be shredded and composted provided they are taken to Batsford Garden Centre, in Moreton and Dobbies Garden Centre, Cirencester.

Batsford will accept trees until Sunday, January 11, but the closing date for Dobbies is Tuesday, January 6.

Scott Williams, strategic client officer for the Gloucestershire joint waste team, said: "Residents who bring their used Christmas trees to the two centres do a great job to help the environment.

"Once the trees are shredded, our waste company Ubico Ltd takes the wood chippings to be composted and then put to very good use as a soil conditioner."