All spruced up

Not a single pine needle fell on the carpet, and there was not an angel to be seen.

There were Christmas trees made from plastic, and one with a football on top, but certainly no Douglas firs or Norwegian spruces - this was strictly a non-traditional way of marking the festive season.

The Festival of Trees, at the Natural History Museum last night, featured that evergreen symbol of Christmas as interpreted by designers including Bruce Oldfield, Changing Rooms presenter Linda Barker and Diarmuid Gavin, the TV gardener.

So there was a tree with a Chelsea football on the top, with smaller balls running in a spiral down from the apex. And another - designed by Diarmuid Gavin - made from strips of translucent plastic, and illuminated from within.

The trees were auctioned to raise money for Save the Children; the event has raised more than £2.5 million for the charity in 15 years.

The charity's president, the Princess Royal, visited the festival last night and other guests included Annabel Croft, the former British tennis ace.