KEIGHLEY born journalist Alastair Campbell was among scores of people who braved the storm on Saturday morning to plant trees at a flagship 'urban forest' event in Bradford.

The writer and former Downing Street press secretary during Tony Blair's era was at Newhall Park to mark the start of National Tree Week, The Queen's Green Canopy to start off the planting of 10,000 trees in the park.

Alastair met his friend from primary school, John Bailey, and together planted over 100 saplings while everyone who attended succeeded in getting all 10,000 in the ground in freezing conditions.

He posted on social media: "Fantastic morning tree-planting for @QGCanopy helping create urban forest in Bradford for Platinum Jubilee with my best pal from primary school John Bailey. Freezing cold but so many volunteers out. Between us John, his son James and I did well over 100."

On his Instagram page, Alastair described the day as 'bloody cold' as he introduced a few of those who had turned up to help, including Bradford South MP Judith Cummins.

As he panned his phone round to capture the start of the proceedings he pointed out Colonel Dan Rex, CEO of The Queen's Green Canopy, who praised those who had come to help despite the forthcoming storm and told everyone to 'give themselves a massive pat on the back'. Deputy lord lieutenant of Bradford, Zulfiqar Ali Karim, added: "Like Dan, when I came round the corner I thought there was only going to be me here and then I saw people playing with snow and that is a true Bradford spirit."

Working in partnership with Trees for Cities and the City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, the QGC brought together the local community, school students and voluntary groups of all ages. The project contributes to the council’s “Tree for Every Child” programme, which forms part of a broader plan to plant 55,000 trees over the next three years.

Volunteers on the day planted a variety of species to transform a flat and underused space into what will eventually become a vibrant and accessible woodland for communities, which has 10 primary schools within a 1-mile radius.

The event got the thumbs-up from Ilkley's Alan Titchmarsh who said: "As an Ambassador for The Queen's Green Canopy who was born and brought up in Ilkley, and served an apprenticeship in the nurseries of the Parks Department there, I am delighted to support this brilliant local initiative. I would like to send my best to all the volunteers, school students and members of the local community who will be there on the day."