EVERY year one man gets in the festive spirit as he spends the whole of December in a caravan surrounded by Christmas trees.

Mike Clarke has been selling and growing traditional Christmas trees since he was a teenager and every year he spends a month living with his evergreens.

Mr Clarke, from Hailsham, has spent the season at the site by the Old Oak pub, near Abbots Wood, Arlington, since he was just 13 years old.

He said staying with the trees had become “a bit of festive fun”.

The Abbots Wood site has been selling Christmas trees for 40 years and is believed to be the first dedicated growing and selling site in Sussex.

Mr Clarke, who runs an antique shop in High Street, Hailsham, got involved along with his father and brothers as helpers at the site before the family took over the tradition.

The 34-year-old said: “We made the Christmas tree stands and, when the original owner wanted to retire, we took over.”

The trees are grown on site but some more exotic varieties are also shipped in from across the world.

Mr Clarke said: “Locals rely on me really and I have been up here so long people know it’s the place to come to.

“To be honest, the first couple of days it is nice with a bit of peace and quiet but now I am looking forward to going home – it gets cold.”

Mr Clarke sells all sizes and varieties of tree such as Norway spruces, blue spruces and nordmanns. However, he added: “As long as you get a good, fresh tree from a local source, you are good.

As he pitches up every year it has also become a tradition for locals to visit Mr Clarke, wandering through the woods and picking out their tree, before going for a meal and drink at the Old Oak.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/OldOakInnChristmasTrees.