A CHARITY Christmas tree collection has been cancelled, following the imposition of the new national lockdown.

Fiona Stobart, chief executive of Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, announced that their annual Christmas tree collection was not going to take place this Friday.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of the Hospice at Home Christmas Tree Collection," she said.

She explained the decision was made "in light of the lockdown announcement made by Boris Johnson.

"As a healthcare charity, we feel it is necessary that we take this step, in order for us to support our healthcare colleagues across the sector and not place our NHS under undue pressure, at a very difficult and worrying time.

"The levels of infection in Cumbria are increasing and we feel morally we cannot go ahead with the Collection as planned.

"We are aware this may cause disappointment for the supporters who have booked their trees in for collection and for the businesses and volunteers who were looking forward to the Collection Day, however we hope everyone understands the very difficult position we have found ourselves in this morning but we don’t want to encourage any greater risk within our community."