WORLD CUP fever descended on a North-East church for a football-themed day of celebrations.

Dozens of visitors attended St Paul’s Church, in Spennymoor, County Durham, and St Paul’s church centre, on Saturday (May 31), to see an array of football-related memorabilia and a spectacular Mardi Gras-style procession.

Part of the Northern League’s 125th anniversary exhibition was on display, along with items belonging to Spennymoor-born George Courtney, from his career as a World Cup referee, and trophies from Spennymoor Town FC.

Meanwhile, arts and craft activities took place in the church centre, where children helped to decorate a large model of a football, which had been created using paper mache.

Visitors also created their own musical instruments to use in the procession, which saw about 150 people parade around the church with the model football.

Christopher Luke, from the church, said the event was held in collaboration with the nearby Trinity Methodist Church and was the third year in a row the two establishments had teamed up.

He said: “It was really good.

“The procession included lots of music and clapping.

“It is a way to reach out to the community and it is great to work with the other church.”