PEOPLE buying Christmas trees over the coming weeks are being invited to swap their current fairy lights with free eco-friendly versions.

Eco-friendly Christmas trees will be on sale at Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, every day from 10am to 4pm until 21 December.

The North Pennines AONB Partnership is offering 120 sets of low energy LED Xmas tree lights free of charge in return for peoples' old sets, which are up to ten times less efficient and last a fraction as long.

To book replacement sets call Paul Everson at the AONB on 01388-528801, or email info@northpenninesaonb.org.uk.

The lights can be collected at the AONB stall on the weekend of December 13/14 in Hamsterley Forest.

Chris Woodley-Stewart, North Pennines AONB Officer and Geopark Manager, said: "We take our environmental responsibility very seriously and we have a range of initiatives on the go. This year we thought it would be fun to offer an LED Christmas tree light swap in partnership with the Forestry Commission. Nothing will be wasted as the old sets will be recycled by Ward Bros of Langley Moor, County Durham."

Forest chiefs have also linked up with the charity run by the staff at Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution in Barnard Castle to help them raise money to transport supplies to Romanian orphans.

Staff will be bagging trees and carrying them to cars and will also be running games and stalls over the next three weekends in the forest.

Also striking a musical note for the same cause will be Barnard Castle Brass Band on December 13 and musicians from Deerbolt the following day (11am to 2pm).