A TOWN’S first Christmas tree festival proved a major success – and made more than £4,000 for charity.

The festival, which took place in Helmsley’s All Saints’ Church, launched on December 6 and was open every day until Christmas, with 30 individually decorated trees lighting up the building.

All the money made in voluntary donations is to be split between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, All Saints’ Church and organisers Helmsley in Business, which aims to raise awareness of the market town by holding future events.

Most of the 30 trees came from nearby Duncombe Park, and all were creatively decorated by a business or organisation in the town.

Chris Garnett, chairman of the Helmsley in Business group, said: “The feedback we received from visitors made all the hard work worthwhile – thousands of people aged from two to 92 enjoyed seeing the display which made our already beautiful church even more spectacular.”