Rotary Club of Pershore will launch their annual Tree of Light appeal this afternoon when the town's Christmas tree is switched on.

The charity appeal gives local people the chance to commemorate the lives of loved ones by making a donation and lighting up the town.

Last year nearly £2,000 was raised for charity and organiser Gerald Canvin said he hoped to beat that this year.

Profits will be given to the building project at St Richard's Hospice, which local Rotary clubs have agreed to support, the British Heart Foundation and Kids Out.

Anyone wishing to make a donation should send cheques, made payable to the Rotary Club of Pershore, to Mike Stone, The Hawthorns, Back Way, Lower Moor, Worcs WR1 02P.

The Christmas tree, which is on the junction of High Street and Broad Street, has been provided by Pershore Rotarians for the second time. It arrived last Friday and the switch on ceremony is at 4pm today.