ST John’s Church in High Legh has celebrated its first Christmas tree festival, enchanting hundreds of guests with brightly decorated trees and a magical theme.

The festival entrance was based on the classic children’s story ‘The lion, the witch and the wardrobe’, and on arrival visitors were transported into the mystical world of Narnia complete with fur coats, the evil Snow Queen and Mr Tumnus’ tea table, created by High Legh resident Margaret Green.

Once inside, the church hall was full of trees decorated by community groups and local traders with St John’s choir winning the prize for the best Christmas tree, as voted by the visitors.

High Legh pre-school nursery came in at a close second, followed by the High Legh community observatory tree.

Resident Marilyn Ridler came up with the idea following a trip to New Mills in Derbyshire with her grandchildren several years ago.

She said: “The New Mills Festival was sponsored by the shops in the village. But in High Legh, although we don’t have many shops, we have so many organisations which bring the community together, and this seemed a great way of celebrating all of them.”

There were 22 trees in total from various groups and local businesses including Abbey Lees Farm, Primrose Hill Nurseries, the Women’s Institute and the Mother’s Union.

Entertainment was provided by High Legh Primary School brass band and choir, organ music, a folk band and two solo flautists, one of whom was only nine years old.

Almost 300 visitors were treated to refreshments and homemade cakes served by a group of helpers in the church.

Each evening the festival closed with a dimming of the main church lights so that visitors could sit quietly and enjoy the trees to the sound of a string quartet and a harpist.