LAST weekend, Bidford's St Lawrence Church held its twelfth annual Christmas Tree Festival, showing off the talents of local people.

The festival showcases a huge variety of decorated trees around the walls of the church, and entries of trees come in from local businesses, individuals and families, community organisations, schools and individual children under the age of 11, all competing against one another.

In recent years the trees have been made from a variety of strange materials as well as using traditionally decorated, with everything from rope and paper, to plastic and even Christmas cakes.

This year's festival attracted as many as 600 visitors, with more than 35 trees on display from organisations and individuals around Bidford, and visitors voted for their favourite decorated tree while making a donation.

The festival raised approximately £2,000 for the church funds, with the winning entry coming from local charity HFT with it's 'Slippery Slope' tree, which had a constant snowstorm falling on its branches.

The Rev. Peter Walker, said: "I was delighted, it's my first one here. I'm aware that there are others around the country, but it's certainly a bit unique in this area. I've not seen any before and I thought it was wonderful. It's fantastic to see how you get families and businesses and organisations all coming together."