Christmas trees will arrive at 362 B&Q stores across the UK this week

B&Q horticulture buyer Joclyn Silezin said: "More customers are saying they will be spending Christmas at home this year with family and having a real Christmas tree is part of that tradition."

B&Q's customers can choose from six varieties of real Christmas trees including the blue spruce, the Serbian spruce and the dwarf Alberta spruce.

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association's recent conference heard that rain had led to lush trees this year.

But threats from artificial tree competition, disease and poor harvesting conditions remain.

Around 7m British Christmas trees are sold each year.