THE festive spirit has filled a County Durham church after it launched its first Christmas Tree Festival on Saturday.

That’s after St Edmund’s Church, in Sedgefield, invited community groups to decorate their own tree in a bid to raise funds for charity.

And a total of 42 trees were submitted with everyone from the flower club to the Sedgefield Young Farmers adding their own creative twist to their entry.

The competition was judged by ITV newsreader and former Sedgefield resident, Pam Royle, who was helped by her daughter Philippa.

“It’s a pleasure to be here. I always love coming back to St Edmund’s because I was here until 1989 and I really miss this church and the congregation,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed by what you have done here; it’s the first year and I hope it’s the first of many.”

The pair awarded a joint third place to Lyrics and the Sedgefield WI and joint second to the Sedgefield 1st Cubs and Scouts Group who shared it with Sedgefield’s Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Trefoil Guild.

However, it was the Sedgefield Local History Society that took first place for its tree which was covered in red and white poppies to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

Royle said the entry had a “particular resonance”.

“We thought it was a very appropriate tee this particular year and there has been a lot of work gone into it,” she said.

History society members, Alison Hodgson and Alison King, said they were delighted to win first place.

Mrs Hodgson, one of five members to work on the tree, said: “We did not expect that at all.

“Since 2014 we have been celebrating each of Sedgefield’s men that fell in the war and each time it’s an anniversary we have a commemoration so we thought it was very appropriate to have a commemorative tree.”

The festival is free but any donations will go to the Butterwick Hospice and DFW Adoption.

Team leader of the festival’s organising committee, Anne Eyley, said the event was “something different to outreach to the community”.

“It’s just amazing and just so heartwarming to see it all and I think everybody’s enjoyed it,” she said. “It’s been quite a long time in the planning but we have had tremendous support and help - hopefully it’s the first of many years.”

The festival will run until Thursday, December 8.