A WIDE range of people have been busy decorating Christmas trees for festivals at their local churches.

Among those hosting festivals recently have been St Stephen’s in Cinderford – which held its first – and Lydbrook where it was the ninth.

St Stephen’s hosted more than 40 trees ranging in size and decorated by crafters, community groups, charities and businesses from the town and surrounding villages.

Rev Mike Barnsley, the Vicar of Cinderford, said: “This is our first Christmas tree festival and we wanted to bring together the community.

“There are so many different groups and organisations represented at the festival and the creativity has been amazing.

“The pupils of Forest High School put messages about why school is important to them and those messages are very powerful.”

Among the other groups taking part were Cinderford Brownies, the Royal British Legion, Hanover Court care home, the Cancer Research Relay for Life team, Cinderford Library, Cinderford Town Council, Artspace Cinderford and Great Oaks Hospice.

There were also performances by a choir from Forest View Primary School and by the handbell ringing group at Forest Sensory Services.

There were a similar number of trees at Lydbrook where members of the community also came together to decorate the trees.

Those taking part included members of the church, the Orchard Trust, the Mothers’ Union, Lydbrook School, the Royal British Legion, Lydbrook Women’s Institute and the community involvement team.

It also featured music by Bella Musica and an organ recital.

Val Pittaway, who helped organise the event, said: “When we started nine years ago, we had about 10 trees but it has grown every year and this year there are about 40.

“We are so grateful to everyone who takes the time to decorate the trees which look so lovely in the church.”