More than £25,000 was raised in support of a hospice that cares for people with life threatening conditions.

Around 2,800 trees were collected from across mid-Essex to raise cash for Farleigh Hospice.

Groups from across Maldon, Burnham, Southminster and Chelmsford came together to take part in the event, which raised a total of £26,000 in support of the hospice.

Farleigh Hospice has helped families across the Maldon district for the last 37 years, helping anybody who suffers with a condition that is considered life-limiting.

The hospice said the event would not have been possible without the support of so many businesses and volunteers that gave their time to collect, chip and process the trees.

Debbie de Boltz, fundraising manager for Farleigh Hospice said: “I can’t thank everybody enough for their support and for helping us raise so much money for Farleigh. This is our fifth successful year, we started with just under 400 trees and we are now collecting 2,800.

“I would like to say a special thank you to the 100 volunteers who so willingly gave up their time.”

A huge number of groups took part in the event, including Essex Highways, Chandler Material Supplies, DF Clark Landscaping, Mr O Removals, Secret Hamper, Chelmsford City Council, Chelmsford Van Hire, Reliable Removals, Lineout UK, Chelmsford Lions Club, D.M Dixon & Sons, Icex Ltd, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bakers of Danbury, the Duck Truck Essex and General’s Farm.

Mrs de Boltz paid thanks to every organisation that came to the event to take part and offer their support.

She said: “Thank you for their amazing support.

“Thanks to you we can help people to live as actively as possible from the point of diagnosis to the end of their lives, by providing physical and emotional care, free of charge.

“We can also continue to support people in their own homes and provide bereavement services to anyone who needs them within our community.”

All the trees which were collected from throughout the area were chipped by DF Clark.

The chippings will then be used as fuel for a biomass power station.

To donate to the hospice, call 01245 457408. Go to www.farleigh

hospice.org to find out more about the hospice.