Lights all aglow as Fenland parish church holds its annual Christmas Tree Festival

A Fenland church has managed to keep one tradition going this festive season - if a little downscaled to normal.

Chatteris Parish Church is currently filled with sparkling lights and glittering baubles thanks to the annual Christmas Tree Festival.

Normally the church would be filled with over 60 trees, but the pandemic has seen the number cut to around half that number.

The Rev Wendy Thomson, vicar, explained: "A lot of the usual groups and organisations that take part by decorating a tree, like the scouts and guides, are not meeting at the moment, so they have not got a tree this year.

"But there are still some organisations that have joined in including The Gables care home, which has decorated their tree with the faces of all its residents.

"The Chatteris in Bloom members have been very creative with their tree and have decorated it with all kinds of gardening-based decorations such as mini flower pots.

"F-Stop - the town's camera club - have put their decorations on a tripod which is also inventive."

The festival is open to all to enjoy between 11am and 2pm daily. There is a one way system in place in the church and visitors must wear a face mask and abide by social distancing rules. It will run until Christmas.

Meanwhile people wishing to attend Christmas church services are being urged to book their seats via the church's website.

There are three services including one on Christmas Eve and of course on the big day itself.