THE magnificent Christmas remembrance tree at a Poole store has raised more than £5,000 for a local hospice.

The fabulous fir tree in the foyer of Sainsbury's town centre store at Pitwines, is a festive tradition for many supporters of the Forest Holme Hospice.

Throughout December volunteers helped shoppers hang up Light Up A Life stars on the tree in memory of someone special in exchange for a donation towards the hospice charity.

This generosity has raised £5,203 for the care of local people with life-limiting and terminal illness.

"We would like to thank everyone who kindly donated to the stand, all our wonderful volunteers for manning it, and all the team at Sainsbury's for making us so very welcome," said Anne Currie, charity manager.

"We would also like to extend our thanks to Continental Landscapes who generously provided the Christmas tree for this year's appeal."

A service to launch the charity's campaign to remember loved ones was launched at Poole Civic Centre in November when people lit candles and the lights on the tree were switched on.

The Seldown Road hospice has a 12-bed in-patients ward, runs consultations for out patients with five clinics per week, offers counselling and support services for patients and the bereaved, as well as complementary therapies.

It also provides a base for palliative care nurses providing direct help to patients at Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and for a general palliative care team caring for patients in their own homes.

To do this the Forest Holme Hospice Charity, which supports the hospice, needs to provide £500,000 each year to fund specialist care for patients living with advanced cancer and other life limiting illnesses across Poole, Wimborne and Purbeck.

For more information about the work of the charity go to forestholmehospice.org.uk or contact the fundraising team on 01202 670644.