A RECORD number of people sailed through the doors of Tavistock Parish Church this year to view the ever popular, annual Christmas Tree Festival.

Organisers of the festival were celebrating after seeing more than 11,000 people visit over the nine-day event at St Eustachius’ Church — the most attended festival in its eight-year history.

A record number also visited on the first night of opening, during Dickensian Evening, with 3,000 people stepping into the church during the town’s festivities to admire the trees.

The festival saw the church filled with 61 trees, all individually decorated by local businesses, schools, charities and organisations. Visitors to the event were asked to vote for their favourite tree and by the end of the festival, the tree decorated by Tavistock Primary School was crowned the winner. The school was awarded a glass, engraved trophy stating that it was the winner of the most voted for tree.

In second place was Whitchurch Primary School and in third place was a tree decorated for the Pancreatic Cancer Action charity.

Jean Keast, who decorated the Pancreatic Cancer Action tree had been fundraising for the charity throughout November and managed to raise £1,335.63 during the month, which will be added to her year’s total which nearly reaches her target of £5,000.

The church’s Christmas Tree Festival managed to raise more than £13,000 this year which, added to the money raised from the previous seven years, totals £78,000 raised overall. The funds will be used to maintain and enhance St Eustachius’ Church.

Chair of the Friends of St Eustachius John Rae said: ‘I would like to give a big thank you to all those who donated the trees, to all who came to the festival and to all those who organised the festival under the inspirational leadership of Pat Morrison.’