AFTER a horrendous year for farmers, Mark and Jane Gray are hoping the festive season will bring some cheer.

Three years ago, they diversified and began selling freshly-cut County Durham-grown Christmas trees from the side of the A691, near their farm at Witton Gilbert, a few miles from Durham City.

The sideline has become more critical since they lost their stock as neighbouring farms were infected with foot-and-mouth disease. Movement restrictions are still in place.

Officials at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ruled out the couple taking up their usual roadside spot.

But they have been allowed to sell the trees, grown by a friend, from a barn at the end of their farm, Broom House, about five minutes away.

Mr Gray said: "Defra have given us the go-ahead to sell Christmas trees providing we relocate to Broom House.

"We really enjoy selling the trees as our buyers are always full of festive spirit, and we felt that it would be good to end the year on a cheerful note.

"We are slowly getting back to normal now, with the first cattle and sheep arriving on the farm in the last fortnight.''

Mrs Gray said: "We are on top of a hill in the middle of nowhere and we get no passing trade.

"We were worried about people finding us, but we have got some good signs out.

"They are getting to us, but it is a bit of a magical mystery tour for them. It isn't big business for us, but it does help pay the wages in December.

"The business has largely grown by word of mouth and recommendation. People like the fact that they are locally grown."

The couple are selling the trees each day until Christmas, from 10am to 6pm.