DESPITE the challenges brought by Christmas in 2020, the villages of Rhayader and Cwmdauddwr are once again lit with festive trees donated from the Elan Valley Estate.

Measuring nearly 40-foot-tall it towers over the town clock, the Rhayader tree is thought to be the tallest donated Christmas tree in Wales.

This was the 61st year that the exercise has been organised in partnership with the Rhayader Christmas Tree Committee. The tree was felled on December 6 from the Gweaelod y Rhos Plantation near Pen y Garreg dam.

After some trimming of the base by tree surgeon Andrew Mills and a cup of tea for the volunteers, together with a warm mince pie provided by the nearby Co-operative store, traffic through the town was brought to a halt as the tree was then hauled by ropes into place alongside the Rhayader Town Clock.

The lighting group which had also decorated the streets of the town with festive lights placed a star on the top and decorated the tree with lights for the Christmas season and afterwards all those involved retired to the Royal Oak Hotel for refreshments.

The Cwmdauddwr Christmas tree was felled on November 29 from the Llanerchi Plantation near Garreg Ddu.