TAVISTOCK Parish Church is gearing up for three of its biggest services in two days this weekend and next week.

Its season of Advent will culminate in services involving carols, children and animals.

This Sunday, December 23, at 6 pm, the parish church choir will lead a traditional candlelit festival of lessons and carols.

Beginning in darkness, a solo soprano voice will sing at the back of the church the first verse of 'Once in Royal David's City', before the choir leads the congregation in a selection of carols, alongside their own rendition of Christina Rossetti's 'In The Bleak Midwinter' set to music by Harold Darke, 'I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In' by John Rutter, and a unique setting of 'Silent Night' especially arranged for the choir by director of music Dr Sean Sweeney.

Christmas Eve, features two identical crib services for children and their families, at 3.30pm and 5pm, involving live animals, nativity characters and a baby.

The repeated service follows the popularity of last year's service, and will allow room for additional parishioners without congestion.

'It is an ideal way of starting the family Christmas. Dressing up is encouraged — for children or their accompanying adults!

Later that evening, parishioners will be joined by visitors and members of Tavistock Methodist Church to welcome in Christmas morning at midnight mass. This hugely-loved service starts at 11.30pm.

Two services will take place on Christmas morning, — a quiet, said service of holy communion at 8am, and a family service of festive fun at 9.30am, a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas after stockings have been opened and before lunch is begun.

The Rev Michael Brierley, priest-in-charge of Tavistock, said: 'These are the services of the year which people seem most to appreciate — they are bursting with joy and goodwill. Everyone is warmly invited, and everyone is warmly welcome.'