Thousands of people are expected to visit Fakenham's Christmas Tree Festival which opens today (Thursday .A record number of 80 individual trees will be on show in the parish church in the town centre each one decorated by a different charity and visitors are invited to give donations to their favourite charities.

Thousands of people are expected to visit Fakenham's Christmas Tree Festival which opens today (Thursday .

A record number of 80 individual trees will be on show in the parish church in the town centre each one decorated by a different charity and visitors are invited to give donations to their favourite charities.

This is the eighth festival and each year the event has become bigger and better with last year's event attracting around 20,000 visitors.

As well as the trees on show, which will all be illuminated with sparking fairy lights and dressed to reflect the various charities, there will be a Christmas market, a big raffle, and refreshments served throughout the day.

The tree festival was introduced to the church by the current Rector, the Rev Adrian Bell, and he is delighted that there will be 80 trees on show this year.

“Our Christmas Tree Festival has developed into a major event in our annual calendar and a tremendous amount of hard work goes into its preparation and staging. There is always a lovely seasonal atmosphere and the trees are seen at their best at late afternoon when the natural light starts to fade,” said Mr Bell.

Mr Bell said that as well as raising money for the participating charities, the Festival brings people into the church building who might not otherwise be there and they find about the work of the parish church and its year-round activities.

. The Festival opens today ( Thursday continuing until December 11. It will be open from 10am until 8pm and admission is free.