HEADGEAR of all shapes and sizes is on display at a Thirsk church.

St Mary’s Church in Thirsk annually holds an exhibition to raise funds for the upkeep of the historic building and this year’s ‘Hat-Tricks’ display is running until September 1.

The exhibition boasts a wide variety of headgear with more than 60 different items on display from pork pie hats to Stetsons and motorcycle helmets from across the decades.

One of the exhibition organisers, Margaret Hunton said: “We have all sorts of hats, top hats to bowlers, and all sorts of memorabilia.

“You name, we’ve got it.”

The church is open daily from 10am to 4pm and there is no charge for the exhibition although a donation to church funds is welcome.

St Mary’s is a Grade I Listed building that dates from the 15th century.

In 1859 the tower had four bells, with the largest dating as far back as 1410 and was reputed to have been brought from Fountains Abbey.

The other three were cast in 1729, 1775 and 1805.

Between 1857 and 1864 two new bells were added to the peal and two more in 1871.

The church also boasts a pipe organ that was built in 1813 by Andrew Wood.

It has been subsequently restored and enlarged.

Like all historic buildings, the church needs funds to maintain its upkeep.