A forest of decorated Christmas trees is filling Sheringham Methodist Church for the town's annual festival of festive firs.

Eastern Daily Press: Sheringham Christmas tree Festival and market at St Andrew's Methodist Church. Picture: ANTONY KELLYSheringham Christmas tree Festival and market at St Andrew's Methodist Church. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

Visitors saw a display of 41 trees decorated by local charities and good causes.

The event, which finishes on Tuesday December 16, has been held since 2010, with the venue alternating between St Andrew's, on Cromer Road, and the parish church.

It is organised by a 10-strong committee drawn from both churches, with more than 40 volunteers helping out by running stalls, handing out programmes and serving up refreshments.

Among the more unusual exhibits were the Friends of Kelling Hospital tree, which was bedecked with surgical gloves and bandages and finished off with a stethoscope tree topper.

And a tree by Sheringham Safer Neighbourhood team, which featured police tape, drink driving and home security warning stickers and miniature police cars made from dough and glitter.

Other trees represented charities including the Alzheimer's Society, Sheringham After Breast Cancer (ABC) group and North Norfolk Riding for the Disabled.

Youngsters at Sheringham Primary School adorned their tree with hand-made dough and foil decorations, while north Norfolk East Anglian Air Ambulance supporters made festive helicopter decorations and Sheringham in Bloom team created a Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary-themed tree.

Festival-goers also had a chance to buy Christmas gifts from stalls run by charities and church members, and tuck in to festive fayre in St Andrew's cafeteria, with young visitors invited to make decorations or create a nativity scene from biscuits, icing and jelly sweets.

Festival secretary Rosa West said organisers had been delighted with the large turnout on the first few days of the event, which last year raised around £6,000 for local good causes.

'We have had coaches come from as far away as Downham Market,' she added.

'People not only enjoy seeing the trees, but they also like to know that they are supporting charities at the same time.'

Sheringham Christmas Tree Festival runs until Tuesday, from 10.30am-6pm.