A LOCAL Christmas tree grower is celebrating after winning the "best spruce" category in a national competition.

Croft Christmas Trees of Croft, near Darlington, won the section with their first entry in the annual Christmas Tree Growers' Association competition.

Anthony Hornshaw, farm manager at Croft, was delighted with the award. He has judged the competition in the past, as chairman of the association, and in other years has never managed to compete because of harvest time on the farm.

This year, however, the event was held a little later so he was able to enter a 2m tall tree in the competition, held in Wolverhampton.

The competition is split into three categories - pine, spruce and fir - and the overall winner supplies the tree to 10 Downing Street. The judges look for foliage, shape and marketability.

"We really spend a lot of time as growers trying to produce well-shaped trees which the market will appreciate," said Mr Hornshaw. "This is a way for members of the association to have some friendly competition."

There are about 350 association members across the UK, representing 60pc of all growers.

Croft Christmas Trees has done well since diversifying into the market.

"We will sell about 20,000 Christmas trees again this year from Grange Farm and have doubled the size of the shop," said Mr Hornshaw.

Spruce, fir and pine trees will be on sale from Saturday, November 29, until December 22, seven days a week from 9am until 7pm.