Farm wins No 10 Christmas tree competition

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak turned on the tree lights

A farm has won a competition for the third time to provide the Christmas tree outside Downing Street.

Dartmoor Christmas Trees took the title of Christmas Tree Grower of the Year in the British Christmas Tree Growers Association's annual competition.

The prize was to supply one of the farm's 18ft 6in (5.64m) tall trees to stand outside the prime minister's office.

It was transported to London on 23 November and the lights were switched on by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Stuart Kirkup has owned Dartmoor Christmas Trees since 2002

"It just makes you feel proud," said Stuart Kirkup, the tree company's owner. "I think there were about 150 trees [in the competition] and it's voted on by your peers... and ours was champion tree."

He said that the tree looked just as good outside Downing Street after transportation as it had in the field.

Dartmoor Christmas Trees harvests about 20,000 trees annually and supplies garden centres and its own retail sites throughout the UK.

Mr Kirkup, who was also given a shield and certificate, told BBC Radio Devon: "This is one of the best places in the country for growing Christmas trees actually. The soil type, the soil depth, the rainfall we get up here is absolutely perfect for Christmas trees."