KNITTING flowers is one way villagers in Bondleigh are hoping to draw in donations to improve its church facilities.

The village is introducing its first flower festival, arranged by residents with support from Sampford Courtenay Flower Club.

The festival will bring together the small village with three days of displays and events to encourage donations to go towards a kitchen project in the parish church.

Villagers have been busy knitting blue petals together to create an artistic scene of the Sea of Galilee to represent the fisherman and patron saint James the Greater.

More than 2,500 petals have been stitched together by the villagers, many of whom are members of the village's small craft club.

The parish church of St James the Greater is Bondleigh's only public building, and villagers want a kitchenette to be installed in the western end of the north aisle, to provide an area to offer refreshments after services and for community needs.

This will be the second fundraiser Bondleigh has organised in aid of the church, — residents previously hosted a village disco.

Bondleigh parish clerk Hilary Tonge said: 'The festival will be extremely important to raise money.

'The church relies on candles for lighting as it doesn't have any electricity yet, which will need doing as well.

'The fundraiser disco was successful, and if the flower festival goes well, it may be a regular event. With the knitted flowers, you could say it's slightly quirky!'

The flower festival will take place from Friday, July 26 through to Sunday 28 with free admission, although donations are welcome to support the kitchen project.

Flower viewing begins at 2pm until 5pm on the Friday, followed by a cheese and wine evening at 7pm, costing £8 with a ticket in advance. The evening will involve live music, a talk on St James and some food and wine with floral displays available to view.

Saturday can be spent from 10am to 5pm with further flower viewings of which individual displays, and displays by village children, and grandchildren, are presented.

Sunday will involve a patronal communion from 11am until noon, followed by more flower viewings with refreshments.

To order tickets for the cheese and wine evening call Danny on 01837 82319.

For more details on the festival call Hilary on 01837 88011, Jane on 01837 82319 or Caroline on 01837 82240.