A garden centre boss has put smiles on faces of his punters after offering people the chance to turn their loved ones into "human Christmas trees."
Paul Oxborrow, 58, from Norwich runs Thorpe Plant Centre with son Elliott, 30. In 2018, he came up with the novel idea of pushing human beings into netting used for festive firs - and it's since become a tradition.
As word spread of his funny idea, Paul set up a special grotto, complete with fairy lights, that customers can visit in order to be 'netted' - using biodegradable mesh, of course.
Anyone who wants to become a "human Christmas tree" simply has to make a donation to Paul's chosen charity - and it attracts all sorts of people.
Paul said: "We had a gentleman go through the netting machine who was probably in his mid-80s. He didn't stop laughing from start to finish.
"We've had kids as young as 18 months. Some kids go home like Christmas trees, they hop to their parents' car.
"We've had parents come back saying, 'When you netted our son last weekend, he stayed like that all Saturday afternoon in the living room.'"
So far this year, Paul has raised £250 by "netting" human beings - with the proceeds going towards food parcels for Thorpe Helping Hands, a local community group.
Paul said: "This year we're asking people to make their donations, then we use the money to put together boxes of non-perishable food.
"Helping Hands have agreed to take these parcels off our hands and distribute them just before Christmas to families and individuals who need support.
"So, hopefully, it's spreading a little goodwill and joy to vulnerable people.
"It's not a massive thing, but we're in a world where if everyone did a little bit it would be much better."
The salesman reckons he's had people travel 50 miles for the experience of becoming a human Christmas tree as word of his tradition has spread.
"Three years ago, when we first started doing this, but it wasn't that well-publicised, one family of four turned up in Christmas jumpers and they all went through the netting machine," said Paul.
"Then the lady proceeded to take out Christmas tree ornaments, baubles and tinsel and decorate everyone, before taking some photos."
He first got the idea to turn humans into Christmas trees when his son and daughter, Kayleigh, played games of jumping into the netting as kids.
However, although he's won a lot of fans with his human netting machine, Paul's not tempted to try it out himself.
"I'm sure my family would find it hilarious," he said. "But I'm a bit on the large size - or at least that's my excuse!
"I could probably squeeze through, but I've never particularly felt the urge to do it."
Paul and Kayleigh are first-aid trained in case anything ever goes wrong with the human netting process - although they've not had any disasters so far.
When someone goes through the machine, they have to line up with the cylinder before working their way inside. Then Paul grabs their wrists and pulls them through.
He said: "For that moment they really are a human Christmas tree!"
