SCHOOLCHILDREN made their mark at an annual church festival after decorating their tree with scores of school badges.

Year 9 students from Northallerton School and Sixth Form College used festive Cuthbert crosses to adorn their sponsored Christmas tree.

The school was one of a host of organisations to take part in the annual Christmas tree festival staged at All Saints’ Church, Northallerton.

The event was first held last year, the idea of church wardens Harry and Joan Dyke. This year saw 48 trees provided by Whitegates, of West Rounton, sponsored by a variety of organisations.

Visitors will be invited to see the festive display from 10am on Friday until Sunday. Trees will be available for sale and there will be performances by the school and Leeming Military Wives choirs.

A school spokeswoman said: “We have all really enjoyed taking part in this delightful community event and the trees look wonderful. We used Cuthbert crosses and the name of the school to decorate our tree. It looks really effective and has helped us get in the festive spirit.”

Church warden Margaret Cooper added: “We had more than 1,800 people through the door last year and the messages to loved ones left on the prayer tree were really moving. It is a lovely event that the community really gets behind.”