Supermarkets take an axe to prices for 'Christmas Tree Saturday' in a bid to get more shoppers buying festive firs

If rising prices are casting a shadow over your yuletide preparations, rejoice in the fact that one family tradition will cost less – thanks to a Christmas tree price war.

Supermarkets are so keen to lure buyers that they've dubbed today 'Christmas Tree Saturday' and have slashed the price of their festive firs.

In fact, snapping up a tree to decorate with your loved ones could cost no more than it did in the 1990s.

Stores usually fight for customers by offering promotions on products such as baked beans, but the focus has now switched to the Nordmann fir.

Aldi fired the first shots in the seasonal skirmish, claiming to undercut all its rivals by 'selling the cheapest Christmas trees this festive season'.

It said its medium British trees offered a saving 'of up to 50 per cent compared to other tree retailers'.

Its price of £16.99 was matched by Lidl, leaving the £30 equivalent from Tesco looking rather dear. However, once Tesco twigged what was going on it slashed its medium tree to £15.

Medium trees at most supermarkets are 5ft to 6ft high, or around 150cm to 180cm. Nordmann firs, which are popular because they keep their needles for longer, cost around £50 to £60 at garden centres and roadside sellers. Morrisons and Asda charge £20 for their medium Nordmanns, while Sainsbury's is priced at £25.

Tesco Christmas tree buyer Victoria l'Anson said: 'Christmas Tree Saturday has become as anticipated as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and over the last few years we've noticed sales starting earlier in the season.

'The trend is so widespread across the UK that we refer to it as Christmas Tree Saturday.

'While most of those early sales happen on the Saturday, we see a spike across the whole weekend and the following weekend as it gives families the chance to enjoy the decorating ceremony together.