CREDITON Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival was again a huge success welcoming more than 4,000 visitors with Saturday being the busiest with 1,500 visitors.

During the festival, which ran from Thursday, December 7 to Sunday, December 10, a total of 76 decorated and illuminated Christmas trees filled the church creating an amazing display.

Comments made by visitors to the festival included; wonderful, lovely, a church full of imagination and positive thought, fantastic, fabulous, amazing, uplifting, excellent, a great day out, decorations handmade with such patience and hard work, some trees did not even have a bauble in sight!

The winner of the best adult tree was Daphne’s Lace Group; it had taken members of the group 18 months to make all the lace poinsettias.

The best children’s tree was the 4th Crediton Brownies, which was outstanding.

The trees were all stunning and the festival would not be the same without the tree decorators who used imagination and artistry to produce such wonderful decorations.

Stella Stephens, Co-ordinator of the festival, announced that this year’s festival has built upon the success of previous years.

It raises funds for the upkeep and restoration of Crediton Parish Church which is a Grade I listed building and rates as one of the 1,000 "Best Churches in Britain."

Stella and the Christmas Festival Committee would like to thank the generous sponsors, volunteers and many visitors for their support.

Thanks was also extended to all visitors for their generosity.

Stella said: "I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank ALL the team, including volunteers in the café, inside the church, car park duty, setting up and dismantling: all have done an incredible job again this year, giving their time and energy freely to ensure the success of the Festival.

"Special thanks should also go to the local Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and the Turning Tides Project and all those who volunteered in the café and church.

"They were such an asset and we couldn’t have managed without them this year, they were a pleasure to have around and worked tirelessly.

"We look forward to their return at the 2018 Festival.

"We would also like to thank all the new volunteers: we hope you enjoyed it and that you will join us again."

A knitted clown, Godfrey Gadabout, was up for raffle during the festival and was won by Keeley. The clown was kindly knitted by Bellringer Annette and £382 raised for the Holy Cross Crediton Campaign Roof Appeal.

Concerts by the North Creedy Choral Society and the Parish Church Choir, which both had a Christmas theme, were well received and attended.

There is an official DVD available of the Festival, with all proceeds going to the Church. If you would like to buy a DVD priced at £2.50, of all the trees and decorations which adorned the Festival, please call Mel on 01363 777828, or email Stella at: [email protected] .

Planning has started for 2018 and there are approximately 40 trees already allocated. Trees are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Stella is always happy to welcome new sponsors, volunteers and tree applications for 2018.