KEMP Hospice is celebrating the silver anniversary of its poignant festive campaign by lighting up a giant Christmas tree in memory of its patients who have died during the last 25 years.

The 12-foot fir was grown by Rosie's Ground Maintenance, based in Low Hill, especially for Kemp's Light up a Life campaign, which gives families the opportunity to display memories of their loved ones on special trees across the district.

This year is the first time the hospice has displayed a tree outside its Mason Road base.

Head of fundraising at Kemp, Cathy Sloan, said: "2018 marks twenty-five years of people across the district making their loved one’s memories shine during the holiday season via Light up a Life.

"Christmas can be a very difficult time for people who have lost people close to them and Light up a Life is a chance for people to honour those who have died.

"Each year people make a donation, leave a dedication and celebrate a life and we decorate trees across the Wyre Forest district with special tags.

"For the campaign’s silver anniversary, we have more Light up a Life trees than ever before in local communities and the incredibly generous donation from Rosie’s Ground Maintenance of a beautiful tree, to be placed outside our home on Mason Road in Kidderminster is such a wonderful gesture."

The tree will be decorated with 25 oversized tags which will be placed in memory of patients and their families who have used the hospice over the last quarter century.

Other Light up a Life trees can be found at Kidderminster Harriers Football Club, Co-op stores in Stourport, Tenbury Wells and Cleobury Mortimer, Walton & Hipkiss Estate Agents in Kidderminster, Berrington Court Retirement Centre, Aylmer Lodge Surgery near Kidderminster Hospital, Wolverley GP Surgery, and Kemp's retail shop in Bewdley.

Cathy added: "In the new year we will also be giving people the chance to have their real Christmas trees collected and recycled from their homes for a small donation, and we have big plans for other events across our golden year.

"We would also like to extend an invitation to everyone across the Wyre Forest to join us on Saturday, December 8 at Kidderminster Town Hall for our Light up a Life celebration service.

"It will be a chance for the whole community to come together and to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us, and for everyone to come together and show how much the Wyre Forest district cares and supports one another.”

For more information on the Light up a Life campaign, visit kemphospice.org.uk/lightupalife or call 01562 756077.