A 40ft Christmas tree made entirely out of balloons was the centre of attraction in The Shires recently.

Balloon modeller Dave Hickory, a regular entertainer at the Trowbridge shopping centre, built the tree on Saturday with 400 balloons of all sizes that he shaped on the spot. The result was a show-stopping creation that took more than four hours to build.

Balloons representing baubles were donated by O2 and Shakeaway.

“It's the first time I’ve tried anything like this and I’m thrilled with the result,” said Dave.

When the treetop angel was in place Trowbridge town crier Trevor Heeks asked shoppers to thank everyone involved and also to support the Trowbridge branch of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group which is raising funds for a new scanner.

The charity is half way to raising the £1.2m needed to buy the Positron scanner, which will transform the treatment of certain cancers at Bath’s Royal United Hospital.

Fundraisers from the Trowbridge branch held a cake sale and the shopping centre's Christmas grotto has a collection bucket inside for donations throughout December.