Annual Christmas Tree Throwing competition held in Sussex in its third year

• WATCH: ITV Meridian's report is by Charlotte Wilkins

It's that time of year when many people will be thinking about whether they should put up their Christmas tree, but a farm in Sussex has been inviting people to throw them.

Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm in Battle held its third annual Christmas tree-throwing competition where people have been flinging Norway Spruces as far as they can.

Clive Collins has been growing Christmas trees at his farm in Sussex for three decades and says the event has become quite competitive.

• The annual competition is inspired by a tradition in Germany

Clive Added: “Practise makes perfect and if you don’t have an old tree you could always try using a brush or mop to sharpen your technique. Having said that, if you just want to turn up and just have a throw you are more than welcome.”

The winners of this year's event were James Gardiner with 10 ft. 65 inches in the men's category and in the women's category, it was Becky Palmer who scooped the prize money with 6 ft. 91 inches.

Every year Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm raises money for a chosen charity. This year the farm is donating 30p for every tree sold to the Bexhill Foodbank which is in desperate need of funds.

Previous beneficiaries of the annual fundraising event include The Spinal Injuries Association, The Kent, Sussex and Surrey Air Ambulance and the local scouts.

Top tips for Christmas tree flinging:

• Warm up beforehand

• Use a javelin-throwing approach

• Use gardening gloves as Christmas trees can be prickly

• Find your balance – make sure the tree is correctly balanced in your hand

• Choose the right run-up – you want to make sure you can get to your optimal speed before the release

• Consider the trajectory – your tree needs to arc in the sky to go further

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