A PARISH church has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with more than 50 Christmas trees lit up and decorated by local firms and organisations.
Businesses each paid £30 for the privilege of putting their own designs on the trees in St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle, for a three day festival.
One of the most striking displays is by Bowes Museum staff. On the tree are 100 biscuits in the shape of the silver swan, which is one of the museum's best attractions.
The wives of Barnard Castle GPs have decorated their tree with surgical gloves, cotton swabs, bandages and test tubes. The church choir tree features a collection of musical instruments. Addisons, a local accounting firm, has used specially-printed £5 notes and bags of gold. The festival is open on Friday, then from 11am to 7pm on Saturday, and 2pm to 6pm, on Sunday.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article