THIS year's Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival was this week declared a record breaker by organisers.

The 56 festive trees, decorated by local organisations and businesses, were displayed in St Eustachius' Church for 10 days between November 25 and December 4.

During the festival a programme of more than 30 musical performances by local schools, choirs and musicians entertained visitors.

Ray Hurle, on behalf of the Friends of St Eustachius', who organised the festival, said: 'We estimate that more than 4,000 paying adults, around 1,500 children and 1,000 people attending services saw the trees, with more than 2,000 people coming through the doors on Dickensian Evening.

'A lot of money was raised, with a surplus of over £6,000, which is likely to reach £7,000, with the anticipated receipt of a major donation.'

The number of votes cast for the favourite tree were high. Ultimately, the visitors' favourite tree was the one decorated by Tavistock Church Schools Federation — a joint effort between St Rumon's Infant School and St Peter's Junior School.

The theme of the decoration was 'Nature's Bounty of Christmas Decorations' and the orange fruit represented the schools' links with a primary school in Uganda.

Trees decorated by Tavistock Launderette, Operation Sunshine, Tavistock Primary and St Eustachius' Church also attracted large numbers of votes.

Mr Hurle added: 'We give thanks to all those who decorated trees, who made the refreshments, who performed the music and who helped with the festival in so many different ways.

'We would like to give particular thanks to the Robey Trust, who loaned us their trestle tables, and to the men from Tavistock Town Council, who provided the "muscle" to move and place the trestles and trees.

'We know that Tavistock is a wonderful community, with an equally wonderful church at its centre, and we think that the 2011 festival was a truly joyful manifestation of that.'

Anyone who would like to join the Friends of St Eustachius should contact Karen at the parish office on 01822 616673.