Firm spruces up 10 Downing Street

Cambrian Trees' winning wreath will be displayed from 7 December

It is one of the best-known homes in the UK, and one Ceredigion company will keep a particularly keen eye on 10 Downing Street this Christmas.

A wreath made by Cambrian Trees has won a competition to decorate Prime Minister Gordon Brown's official residence for the festive season.

It won after a vote by 125 tree growers and will be presented next week.

The firm, of Pontrhydygroes, near Aberystwyth, began making wreaths only last year, when it produced 300.

Kim Lionel, 24, whose husband is a partner in the business, made the winning decoration from foliage, cones, berries and ribbon.

My mother has asked me to try and get his (Gordon Brown's) autograph Kim Lionel

"It's the first time Cambrian Trees has entered the competition," she said.

"This is the second year we've made wreaths so we're delighted to have won the competition," she added.

"We might have a guided tour of 10 Downing Street, but we don't expect to meet Mr Brown.

"If we do my mother has asked me to try and get his autograph," she joked.

Another contest to supply Downing Street's tree was won by a firm in Herefordshire.

Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association, which runs the annual competition, said: "For the last five years the winning wreath has been placed on the front door at 10 Downing Street so we expect that to be the same this year.

"It's presented on the basis that it hangs on the front door," he added.

"We don't expect to see Mr Brown as the tree is normally delivered when the prime minister is out because it's so large he can't park his car anywhere."