The Rougham Estate, near Bury St.Edmunds in Suffolk, has won the annual British Christmas Tree Growers Association competition to supply 10 Downing Street.

Co-owner George Agnew said it is the first time the estate had entered and it will be delivering the Norway spruce once he has selected the ideal 16-feet-high tree.

"We were quite surprised to win at the first attempt when we're up against about 60 of the best growers in the country," he said.

"We grow about 10,000 trees a year now.

"There was a time 15 years ago when we did feel under threat from the growth in popularity of plastic fake trees, but we think people see the benefits of having a real tree which adds that Christmas freshness and undoubtedly looks better."

The estate sells most of its trees through Blackthorpe Barn shop off the A14.