Residents across Bath and North East Somerset are being reminded to dispose of their real Christmas trees responsibly once the festivities are over.

There are various options available to recycle trees after twelfth night.

People living BA1, BA2, BA3 and BS31 postcode areas can take advantage of the annual Christmas tree collection service offered by Dorothy House. For a small fee, residents can book to have their tree collected between 7 and 9 January and help raise much needed funds for the charity. Bookings are open until 6 January at: www.charityxmastreecollection.com

Bath and North East Somerset Council is offering a bookable free collection service. Residents can book two collections over a period of four weeks from 17 January when garden waste services resume, even if they don't have a green bin. Trees should be cut up small enough to fit in the lorry, to less than 1.2m and decorations removed.

To book a collection visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/gardenwaste, call Council Connect on 01225 394041 or visit one of our One Stop Shops. The council will not pick up any trees that have not been booked for collection.

Alternatively, residents can take their tree to any of the council's recycling depots. All trees will be chipped and turned into compost.

Councillor David Wood, joint cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Neighbourhood Services, said: "We make it easy for residents to recycle their real trees so there's no need for them to end up in landfill. We're happy to collect them if you book, you can bring them to one of our recycling centres or you can support Dorothy House and book a collection from them.

"As the New Year approaches, I'd like to encourage people to consider supporting a community tree planting event and help us met our target to increase tree cover in the area to help tackle the climate emergency. These will be happening across Bath and North East Somerset and will be publicised locally and on social media. We'll also be holding another tree sale after Christmas at our Radstock Road depot. It's worth noting that besides us, there are many other organisations offering trees such as The Queens Green Canopy, The Woodland Trust & The Tree Council so get involved and help tackle the climate emergency."

Residents are reminded that the council's recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

There will be no recycling or rubbish collections on Monday 27 or Tuesday 28 December. A collection calendar with revised collections dates can be downloaded from: www.bathnes.gov.uk/collectionday

From January a new booking system for garden waste sack collections is being introduced. To book a collection in advance visit:

www.bathnes.gov.uk/gardenwaste.