THE festive season is only around the corner and lots of people will be looking forward to decorating their Christmas tree.

But with over eight million trees entering the landfill in the UK each year after the festive season, switching to tree-rental is far kinder to the planet.

Now a special service in Stroud means families can rent a tree for Christmas and return it to be replanted and cared for until they collect it again the following year.

The business, Rental Christmas Tree, opens at Winstone's ice cream parlour on Minchinhampton Common on Saturday, November 20. And pre-orders can be made online.

Sales director Tom Vear said: "If you are worried about the environmental impact of cutting down a Christmas tree each year, then this is the tree for you.

"You can come and select your rental from our Christmas tree store, keep it for the festive period, keep it well watered and then when you are done with Christmas, bring it back to us.

"If you love the tree and have named it, then you can have the exact same tree the following Christmas."

The expected life span of the rental trees is seven to eight years.

Tom is also hosting a special reindeer event at the Minchinhampton site on Saturday, November 27, 3pm - 5pm

Visitors will be able to rent a Christmas tree, meet reindeers Dancer and Blitzen, plus there will be Marinades Caribbean street food and the Winstones ice cream parlour will have all the usual hot and cold offerings.

For further details or to order a tree see: www.rentalchristmastree.com