AN ELDERLY couple who live in Inkberrow have lit up the sky with their Christmas tree which they planted in 1978 - and grew more than 50ft.

Avril and Christopher Rowlands bought the £6 fir from a garden centre shortly after moving into their home.

After their first Christmas in their new house, they planted the 6ft tree in the front garden and took a photograph to commemorate the occasion.

Incredibly, over the years the tree took root and 43 years later the tree now towers over their detached home.

The village, where the 17th century pub inspired The Bull in Radio 4's The Archers, is one of the darkest places in the UK without street lights.

Redditch Advertiser: The tree is now so big a cherry picker is needed to help the couple decorate it.The tree is now so big a cherry picker is needed to help the couple decorate it. (Image: SWNS)

But on Saturday, December 4, 2,000 residents turned out to see the switching on of the huge tree which could be seen from miles around.

The tree is now so big a cherry picker is needed to help the couple decorate it with 3,000 lights ahead of the big switch on.

Retired TV writer Avril, 75, said: "Inkberrow is one of the only villages in the UK which has no street lights so when the tree is lit up it really is quite a spectacle.

Redditch Advertiser: Avril and Christopher Rowlands. Image/ SWNS.Avril and Christopher Rowlands. Image/ SWNS.

"The tree has become a big part of our lives and the switching on of the lights has become quite a village tradition.

“Last year had to do the switch on by ourselves and post the pictures on Facebook because Covid restrictions were in place.

"We switched on the lights and have asked people to donate to charity online.”

Avril and Christopher chose Cancer Research for their donations after a close friend died from the disease this year.

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The couple say they are still stunned by the size of the tree which grows more than one foot each year.