A CHURCH is marking a milestone with a glittering festival of Christmas trees.

To celebrate its 160th birthday, Holy Trinity Church, Win-gate, east Durham, is staging an ecclesiastical exhibition with a difference and has issued an open invitation to everyone to share in the event.

The church has come up with a Christmas tree festival to herald its long-standing history and members of the congregation have helped Father Martin Vasey assemble the distinctive array of pine trees.

Fr Vasey is certain the festival will prove a popular attraction, both among people in the village and from visitors from outside the area.

Each of the trees, which have been placed throughout the church, have been decorated in the colours of the vestments, and individually symbolise different Christian celebrations.

The church was consecrated in 1841 when there were just 489 houses in Wingate.

Today, it stands in the busy community's main street echoing the village's history, but also forming a modern-day point of contact for residents.

Delighted with the tree festival itself, Fr Vasey said that the event marked an exciting chapter in the church's long life and heralded "great things to come".

The anniversary year will also be used as the launching pad for vigorous fundraising.

Fr Vasey said: "The money will be used to provide much-needed kitchen and toilet facilities at the church."

The exhibition will be open today, from 10.30am to 7.30pm, and from the same time tomorrow.

It will also be open on Sunday following morning service at 9am, and a Songs of Praise Service will be held at 6pm on Sunday.