A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl performed the important task of lighting one of County Durham's biggest Christmas trees on Sunday.

Esther Bancroft performed the symbolic lighting of a candle which triggered the illumination of all 1,500 lights on the 26ft Norwegian spruce at Durham Cathedral.

Accompanied by the Dean of Durham, the Very Rev Michael Sadgrove, Esther, the daughter of the cathedral's former education officer Alison Bancroft, led a procession featuring the cathedral choir down the nave to the tree in darkness at the start of the annual service.

Hundreds of people, many families with young children, gathered round the tree to witness the lighting and the blessing of the crib.

Esther, a pupil at St Godric's Primary School, performed her role with aplomb after an earlier run through of proceedings.

Before and after the service people placed gifts at the foot of the tree, which were collected by the Salvation Army for distribution to needy children.