AN annual Christmas tree festival – which this year became a memorial to a church stalwart – has been hailed another success.

Hundreds of people visited Stoke Fleming's 13th century church to look at the trees which had been sponsored and decorated by local organisations from primary school children to the Womens' Institute.

Earlier this year Stoke Fleming was left stunned by the sudden death of Gill Barker who helped launch the popular festival with her husband Peter six years ago.

She suffered a severe stroke at the age of 65 and died 10 days later in Torbay Hospital.

As a tribute to Gill, who was a churchwarden and one of the driving forces behind a major church refurbishment, this year's festival became a memorial to her work for the church and the community.

'We had a photograph of her on the table as you went into the church,' said Jenny Norman, one of this year's organisers. 'People were very much remembering her.'

Jenny and her husband Bob along with Gill's husband Peter organised this year's festival which boasted 27 decorated Christmas trees in St Peter's Church in Stoke Fleming.

The newest decorated tree this year was by Bob who is a local potter and made little angels, stars and harps to hang on the branches.

This year the money raised by the festival is being shared between Dart Sailability, the Dartmouth-based Cued Speech charity and the church.

Organisers were this week still counting up the cash but Jenny said: 'It went very well indeed.

'I should think the numbers visiting the church were slightly down on last year and we don't know yet quite how much money was raised.

'We have been very lucky and a lot of people volunteered to be stewards. The Mothers Union organised the catering and we are very grateful to everyone who helped.'

The cash for the church will going into the general funds.

The church has just had thousands of pounds spent on it in a massive refurbishment which has included a complete redecoration, new lighting and even under-pew heating to keep the congregation warm in winter.