Remember a loved one with St Benedict's Hospice tree at The Bridges in Sunderland

The St Benedict's Hospice dedication tree is back at The Bridges - and hundreds of shoppers have already written a bauble to remember a loved one.

Now an annual tradition in the city, the tree gives people the chance to dedicate a heart-shaped paper bauble to a person they may be missing this Christmas, with a donation of their choice made to the hospice in Ryhope.

You can find the tree outside Primark in The Bridges until December 10, after which the baubles will be placed in the hospice's chapel over the festive period.

As well as the baubles, there's a host of gifts to buy including cards, feed for Rudolph and hand-made crafts donated by hospice supporters.

The tree is there every day until Sunday and is manned by hospice volunteers, as well as community volunteers from businesses including Barclays.

Often the bauble can be the first time someone has written the name of their late relative or friend since they died, and Sheelagh Taylor, head of fundraising and retail at the hospice, said: "It doesn't have to be someone who has passed away, they can just make out the bauble to someone they miss at Christmas and some people dedicate them to pets.

"For many it can be the first step in acknowledging that someone isn't going to be there this Christmas. For others, it's become an annual tradition and they look out for the tree every year."

As well as the dedication tree, Christmas fundraising events have included the Light Up A Life event at the hospice, which sees a tree lit, with each light representing a life.

Hundreds braved the snow at the weekend to take part in the service, which was conducted by the Hospice Chaplain, Rev Canon Remi Omole, that sees a tree lighted on the hospice grounds.

There was also readings from the Mayor of Sunderland, Cllr Dorothy Trueman, and from Sue Gatenby who works at the hospice.

Meanwhile, Mark Allison, better known as Run Geordie Run, who has raised more than £300,000, spoke about his fundraising journey for the hospice and his plans for ambitious future challenges.

The tree was switched on by the family of Beth Junkin from Washington who died in April this year, aged just 38, after a battle with cervical cancer.

Hospice staff say Beth's husband Mark and young sons Joe and Ollie did Beth proud at the moving service.

Sheelagh says fundraising is so vital for the hospice, which has been supporting Sunderland and the wider community for 30 years.

"We simply could not offer the level of dedicated care we give to patients and their families without donations," she said. "The Sunderland community is amazing and the support we get here is great. Considering what they are going through, that people fundraise just weeks after losing a loved one is incredible." St Benedict's Hospice helps Sunderland and the wider community through the darkest of times.

Only part funded by the NHS, the hospice relies heavily on fundraising for its registered charity to be able to continue its care provision, including specialist palliative care.

Money raised through its charity shops and fundraising events is essential for it to be able to continue helping patients and their families.