GREENFINGERED volunteers have planted 8,000 trees as part of a campaign to reverse the effects of world deforestation.

The team of 30, led by Richard Greenwood, of Bradshawgate, Bolton, and Simon Harrington, owner of The Bar in Nelson Square, travelled to Colchester, Essex, at the end of last month.

The pair organised the two-day trip as part of their "Two Men Plant a Forest" campaign, which will see them head to a South American rain forest in Ecuador, in October, when they hope to plant more than 5,000 trees.

Mr Greenwood said: "We really got into the swing of it in Colchester and I'm confident we can plant even more trees than we had planned in Ecuador."

For details of the campaign, visit www.twomenplantaforest.co.uk.