THE new chairman of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association (BCTGA) is a York grower.

Oliver Coombe owns Wigginton based York Christmas Trees – the largest supplier of freshly cut Christmas trees within the York region.

An award-winning forestry expert, he was the only Yorkshire Christmas tree grower to win an award at the annual BCTGA competition held last year in Wales.

His chairmanship co-incides with the first year the BCTGA competition will be held in Yorkshire, at Woolley Edge Christmas trees near Wakefield, on Tuesday (17th).

The winner gets the honour of supplying an 18ft Christmas tree to Number 10 Downing Street.

The BCTGA has more than 320 members who supply the UK market which is estimated to be around seven million trees per year.

Mr Combe said: "We ask people to look for a British grown tree because it is good for the economy, for agriculture and for the environment.

"Buying British means money is going directly back into the country’s economy and helping provide employment in the agricultural sector and rural areas."