Tonnes of branches from the Lakes are used in the race

It is a long held tradition that branches from Grizedale Forest are used to make the race's 16 fences.

Foresters from the Forestry Commission are gathering the branches which are needed for the famous event on 5 April.

Each fence along the 2.25 mile course is made of wood and then "dressed" with distinctive green branches of spruce.

Salty air

Spokesman for the Forestry Commission Mark Hartnett said: "I've been working here for 28 years and in that time branches from the Lake District have always been used to construct the jumps in the Grand National.

"Historically they look for brightly-coloured branches either from the Sitka or Norway spruce, which we clip from felling sites.

"We only charge them a minimal amount because the branches are of no use to us, but they play a big part in one of the world's biggest horse races."

In the month before the race, foresters gather tonnes of spruce branches, which are then stored in the forest until the latest date possible, to prevent the salty air in Liverpool drying them out.

About 10 days before the event, the branches are collected by Mark Shaw from Landcare, the Aintree-based company contracted to provide material for the fences.

He makes up to 14 journeys in his truck to safely transport the spruce to the racecourse.