A CHURCH has started the festive season with a Christmas tree festival.

Nearly 30 trees of different shapes and sizes adorn St Mary's Church, in Thirsk.

The trees have been sponsored by local businesses and parishioners, and decorated in a variety of different manners.

The Reverend Richard Rowling is holding the festival to coincide with Thirsk's Christmas fair and cement links between the church and town.

The tree festival ends today, at 4pm.