A Suffolk church has held a Christmas tree festival that helped to raise £1,200 for cancer charities. 

St Mary's Church in Somerleyton hosted the festival over the weekend with various groups and organisations taking part, such as the Somerleyton Estate, Somerleyton Strummers, Women’s Link, the village's pre-school and primary school, the Duke’s Head and Waveney Rush and also friends of the church.

Lowestoft Journal: Trees of all designs filled the church Picture: Mick HowesTrees of all designs filled the church Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Also featuring among the displays was a memorial tree where visitors could write the names of their loved ones no longer with them and hang them on it. 

Lowestoft Journal: The festive trees filled the church Picture: Mick HowesThe festive trees filled the church Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The trees will stay in the church near Lowestoft over the Christmas period and enhance the beauty of the historic building over the festive season.  

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Lowestoft Journal: Mini snowmen surround one of the trees on display Picture: Mick HowesMini snowmen surround one of the trees on display Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The annual festival has been held on the first weekend in December since 2010.

As well as raising £1,200 for cancer charities, a Christingle service held on Sunday afternoon, together with carol singing around the village raised the sum of £270 for the Children's Society. 

The church's annual carol service is on Sunday at 3pm followed by festive refreshments.