Watford residents can claim up to five free trees, thanks to the countywide 'Your Tree Our Future' scheme.

A total of 5,000 trees are being given away to help improve air quality and achieve the town's carbon-neutrality target by 2030.

The initiative is part of a wider environmental scheme across Hertfordshire, which is coordinated by both Watford Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council.

Under the scheme, residents can apply for up to four trees and one hedgerow pack, enough to establish 6m of hedgerow, all designed to suit the region's climate and geography.

Paul Stacey, associate director of environment and communities at Watford Borough Council, said: "We would like to thank residents for their engagement and support with this scheme in recent years, and once again, we are inviting everyone in Watford to participate to help us become a net-zero town by 2030.

"We are also delighted to collaborate with Hertfordshire County Council to distribute the 5,000 trees across the town, and I urge all residents to claim their trees before supplies run out."

The 'Your Tree Our Future' launch reflects an ambition to involve residents in enhancing the town and county's sustainability.

The wider aim includes planting 1.8 million new trees across Hertfordshire by 2030, enhancing natural habitats by 20 per cent before 2050, and improving air quality for all residents within the next eight years.

The new batch of 5,000 trees will further improve the landscape of Watford, a town celebrated for its award-winning green spaces like Whippendell Wood and Cassiobury Park.

These additions will join the 23,000 trees already given away to residents and the 1,500 trees planted in parks and streets since last year.

To apply for the trees residents should head to Hertfordshire County Council website at hertfordshire.gov.uk/yourtree and apply via a first-come, first-served basis until all the trees have been claimed.

With 5,000 available, there's no time to leaf it till the last minute!