VISITORS to one parish church will be in for a tree-mendous festive treat this weekend.

From today, St Peter's Church in Carlton Colville is holding a three-day Festival of Christmas Trees.

The 33 trees on display have all been decorated by pupils from the Warren School, Carlton Colville and Grove primary schools, and by local Brownies and Guides, care homes and church groups.

Schoolchildren decorated their trees with pictures of themselves and reindeer, members of the church's crafts group decorated theirs with a 'sea and friendship' theme and the one by the church's pathfinders group has a theme of God's love. Other trees feature traditional baubles, cards and tiny Santas.

The festival is held every two years and is organised by Pamela Vincent and Heather Saunders.

A spokesman for St Peter's said: 'The church looks stunning with all these Christmas trees. People have put in so much hard work into them. The festival just shows how welcoming the church is and the warmth people show for it.

'It also shows how Christmas is so much more than just giving presents – it is about the birth of Jesus.'

The Christmas Tree Festival runs from 10.30am to 4.30pm today and Saturday and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on Sunday. Admission is free. There will be refreshments available every day and a hot Saturday lunch will also be available. Visitors to the festival can make a donation to the church's upkeep.