AROUND 4,000 people visited the popular Christmas tree festival in Corbridge this year.

The St Andrew’s Church Christmas Tree Festival was unable to go ahead last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

But from Friday (December 3) to Tuesday (December 7), 77 trees were on display in the church, donated and decorated by various groups, businesses, organisations and charities.

Linda Hunter said: “It was definitely a success. It brought a smile to the faces of people that came in through the door and they all went out saying ‘it’s made our day’ and ‘it’s the start of our Christmas’.

“Everybody was just really glad to be there. We all felt really cheered by it.”

Among the trees was one made from glasses by Croft and Graves Optometrists and another designed by Café No 6 using tins of coffee and mugs.

Burn Brae Lodge Care Home dedicated their tree to residents who died during the Covid-19 outbreak last Christmas in a poignant tribute.

A small choir sang each afternoon, from around 2.30pm to 4.30pm each day.

Hexham Brass and Prudhoe Gleemen also performed in St Andrew’s Church Yard on Monday evening (December 6).

Late night festive shopping also took place in the village on Monday, but there were no stalls, street food, and other entertainment, like in previous years.