LYDBROOK Church was filled with decorated Christmas trees for its seventh annual festival.

Around 40 trees were decorated by members of the congregation and groups and organisations in the village such as Lydbrook School, the Lydbrook branch of the Royal British Legion, the Orchard Trust and the Drybrook. Lydbrook and Ruardean Mother’s Union.

Santa greeted visitors as they entered the Church of the Holy Jesus to see the trees, many of which had personal touches.

Anne and Rod George’s tree featured some of the Harrod’s annual, dated decorations she has collected over 30 years.

Next to it was a set of mechanical mice playing Christmas carols that Mr George brought back from the USA.

Pauline Moore decorated the altar area and took inspiration from the playing of Lydbrook Band member Jack Lythaby.

A CD of Jack, who was recently awarded the Yvonne Walkerdine music bursary, playing Threads of Gold Amongst the Silver provided the background for the decorations.

A tree covered in poppy decorations was a last-minute entry from Lydbrook British Legion.

Branch chairman Trevor Hek said the display, which stood beneath the war memorial in the church, had only been put together in the last 48 hours before the opening of the festival on Friday of last week.

The festival also meant that the Rector of Lydbrook, Rev Nick Bromfield, had to give up his pulpit for the weekend.

Church organist Bob Aston built a tower around the pulpit as part of wife Olwen’s Winter Wonderland display.

Rev Bromfield said: “It seems incredible that this is our seventh festival and each year there are more trees.

“There were 40 trees this year filling the church in a way no-one would have thought all those years ago.”

•See this week’s Review for more photographs.