REDDITCH'S Kingfisher Centre manager enjoyed a taste of the exotic when he went shopping for palm trees.

Ian McLelland recently travelled to Nieuwkoop, near Amsterdam, to select new palm trees for the shopping centre.

The nine palm trees currently housed in the centre have been its focal point for 25 years - but are being chopped down because they have come to the end of their natural life.

The new trees will be in keeping with the town centre's tradition, taking centre stage in the redevelopment of Worcester Square, which is being levelled off.

Mr McLelland was advised to choose a different species of palm tree more suitable for the centre's environment and travelled to Holland to make the final selection.

So far, he has bought five Washington Robusta palms, which grow naturally in Valencia, Spain, and cost about £1,600 each.

But he said they may buy more at a later date.

The vast Dutch greenhouse selling the palms is the only one in Northern Europe and because of the cost of the trees, Mr McLelland was required to hand pick them.

"It was an amazing experience going out to Amsterdam to select the trees but I was exhausted by the end of it," he said.

The new trees will be delivered once the Worcester Square redevelopment is complete.