UK's "tallest Christmas tree" lit up at Cragside in Northumberland

The giant tree, which can be found on the Cragside estate in Northumberland, was lit up on the evening of Wednesday, November 27.

Organised by the National Trust, the event culminated in all 42 metres of the tree lit up by TV presenter and architect George Clarke.

Dressing a tree of this height takes industrial thinking - as well as over 1km of lights. A team of five people used a cherry-picker to reach the top of the Giant Redwood.

Children from local Rothbury First School were among the first to see Cragside’s very own illuminations and helped to kick start celebrations with a programme of festive songs by lantern light.

Speaking to the National Trust, George Clarke said: "Cragside is one of my favourite National Trust properties. It is spectacular inside and out, a real wonder of innovation, vision and creativity. So, it was an absolute honour to be asked to help open the Christmas festivities at Cragside by switching on 2,000 lights on the UK's Tallest Living Christmas Tree.

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“At a whopping 42 metres, that's about 10 double decker buses stacked on top of each other!

“It's a proper Christmas treat but also a living link between the past, present and future visitors who'll be just as awestruck as us. So as much as I love the National Trust for all the amazing buildings they look after, I also love them for the landscapes and trees they care for too. I really recommend coming to see these for yourself."

The Cragside grounds, which can be found near Rothbury on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, are open throughout December, with the exception of Christnas Eve and Christmas Day.