Residents and schoolchildren are hoping to spread happiness throughout Witham by planting trees.

Humber Road Estate Community Initiative and Witham Tree Group were joined by Powers Hall Academy pupils, councillors and MP Priti Patel when they planted 105 trees along a ditch, near the Spa Road playground opposite Asda.

HRECI chairman Kenneth Davies, 66, said: “This shows what the community can do when it pulls together.

“Apparently some surveys have been done which say places with more trees have a 10 per cent higher happiness rating."