A church has been transformed into a sparkling wonderland with twinkling fairy lights and shiny baubles at an annual festival.

Great Yarmouth’s Minster is holding its sixth annual Christmas Tree Festival to raise money for the church’s preservation trust.

Just shy of 50 participants have pushed out all the stops to create the most original displays.

Clubs, businesses, charitable groups, societies and schools have all come on board to add creative specimens which reflected their sphere of expertise or interest.

Paul Davies, chairman of the preservation trust which cares for

the building said he was delighted with the number of entries.

He said: “We always get a great turnout at the festival, with some very imaginative and creative ideas.”

On the festival’s opening day, the mayor of Great Yarmouth, councillor Malcolm Bird, was given the responsibility of choosing the best trees on show.

The best tree in the adults category was won by Sarah’s Tearooms based on the Pleasure Beach Gardens in Great Yarmouth. The best in the junior category was prepared by youngsters at Northgate Primary School.

The festival runs until Sunday and is open from 10am to 3pm every day except Sunday which starts at 11am.

On Saturday there will be extra activities for children including an indoor teddy zip wire, craft activities and decorating a mince pie.

Tomorrow as part of the festivities, there will be a concert by soprano Hayley Moss and tenor Ben Lake who will perform “classical meets broadway” from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £10 on the door on or at the Minster cafe, including mulled wine and minced pie.