MILLIONS of BBC Radio 2 listeners heard the story of Prestonpans’ famous Ding Dong Tree when it featured on Chris Evans’ breakfast show on Monday.

The show, which is heard by more than 9million people every day, heard all about the town’s famous tree from Prestonpans Primary School headteacher Jonathan Revell.

He described the tree, which sits in the school playground, as like an extra member of staff, and told Evans all about the game children play around it.

Mr Revell said: “It may not be the grandest tree in the world, but it has the best story.”

The Ding Dong Tree was named Scotland’s Tree of the year last summer.

It is currently in the running to be named European Tree of the Year.

It featured alongside three other trees from England, Wales and North Ireland, as the United Kingdom’s entries into the European competition.

The trees were all part of a BBC documentary show last year which saw presenter and comedian Ardal O’Hanlon visit Prestonpans to hear about its history.

Voting for the European title is currently open to the public but will close on Tuesday, February 28.

Mr Revell told DJ Evans and his listeners how children named it after a tag game they play around it in which they shout “Ding Dong”.

He said: “The tree has been in the centre of the playground since the late seventies when the school was built.

“It is almost like having an extra member of staff.”

To vote for the Ding Dong Tree, go to treeoftheyear.org