TOWERING Christmas trees handpicked from a south Cumbrian forest have been installed outside a top hotel - signalling the start of the festive season.

Two 30ft sitka spruces covered with hundreds of fairy lights stand proudly outside of the Abbey House Hotel and Gardens in Barrow.

They are at each side of the entrance to the hotel, which has been filled with hundreds of Christmas decorations across its public areas.

Abbey House’s famous Christmas trees arrived from Haverthwaite earlier this month after being selected in June by the hotel’s head gardener Richard Courtman.

“It was very important to us that we got trees of the correct size and, due to the symmetry of the building, that they were very similar size and shape," said Richard. “I think we’ve made great choices and the trees look fantastic.”