Fir real: expert tips on picking the perfect Christmas tree for the best price in the UK

Millions of real trees are sold each year, and costs vary widely - we ask experts how to find good deals

For many Britons, putting up their tree is the ritual that marks the official start of Christmas, with the second week of December a popular time to deck the halls.

While surveys suggest that about two-thirds of the population will opt for an artificial tree, millions of real ones will be sold this month. As usual, the competition is fierce on the high street, with some supermarkets selling the most popular tree - the Nordmann fir - for under 15.