A CONGREGATION abandoned the traditional Palm Sunday church service and got all jazzed up instead.

Dozens of visitors to St Andrew's Church, Grinton, Swale-dale, were treated to a two-hour jazz concert by international six-piece band Speakeasy, headed by musician Carole Clegg.

The concert was part of the Jazz on the Swale weekend, and the church's vicar, the Reverend Tim Tunley, said there had been a mixed congregation at the event.

He said: "We were invited to stage the concert by organisers of the jazz festival and thought it would be a great idea. There is a great interest in jazz and blues, and Carole Clegg has an international reputation."

Carole and her band, from Newcastle, have performed at religious venues in the past.

She said: "The fact that this particular concert took place in the church at Grinton on Palm Sunday provided a further opportunity for people to gather together and anticipate the arrival of this most important event in the church calendar, Easter."