STOKE Fleming enjoyed its busiest Christmas Tree Festival yet.

A record of more than 720 people visited St Peter’s Church, which was alive to the sights and sounds of Christmas at the weekend.

The annual event, now in its ninth year, once again saw the church transformed by 28 real fir trees, individually sponsored and decorated by clubs, organisations and businesses within the village.

Themes ranged from The Recycling Tree to The Great British Bake Off Christmas.

There was a Spot the Oddity competition, with each tree also displaying item that did not fit its theme – so nail files, pieces of Lego and even a rubber duck played their parts.

This year the festival’s chosen charity was the Stoke Fleming branch of the Royal British Legion Women’s Section, which will receive in the region of £750, along with the village church.

Organisers Rokie Shiffner and Shirley Ruddlesden said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who participated in the event in any way or came to visit.’