A CELEBRATORY Christmas tree festival is set to spruce up a Stourbridge church for the coming festive season.

St Thomas’s Church, in Market Street, is holding its annual festival from Friday, December 9, until Sunday, December 11, with this year’s event set to be a proper Christmas cracker.

The church will be packed with more than 30 Christmas trees – both big and small – adorned with hundreds of decorations and thousands of lights.

But the decorations promise to be more than just tinsel and baubles as all the trees will be arranged by local businesses, charities and schools.

The event, which is free to attend, will also raise money for the children’s ward at Russells Hall Hospital.

Val Homer, event organiser, said: “St Thomas’s Church Christmas Tree Festival has become a social fixture on the festive calendar in Stourbridge and there’s a real challenge amongst the local businesses, charities and schools involved to come up with unique and unusual ways of decorating their festive trees.

“Last year we had a tree decorated with cooking utensils so we’re hoping to see more inventive ideas this year.”

This year, organisations including Waitrose and Stourbridge Fair Trade as well as schools such as Old Swinford Hospital and Gig Mill Primary School will take part in the festival.

Val added: “The festival is a great way to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of St Thomas’s while getting into the festive spirit and ultimately to raise vital funds for the children’s ward at Russells Hall Hospital.”

The festival is open between 9.30am and 5pm on Friday and Saturday, and will be accompanied with Christmas music performed by the Stourbridge U3A Recorder Group at 2.30pm on Friday and a carol service from 2pm until 3pm on Saturday.

On Sunday, the church will be open to visitors from 11.30am until 5pm between the regular church services at 10am and 6.30pm.

During the festival, refreshments and mince pies will also be available to buy, while children can take part in a craft activities to make their own tree decorations.