ST MARY’S Church, in Thirsk, celebrates Christmas early this year with a special exhibition in the 15th century church.

Cribs, Crackers and Christmas Trees, the sixth annual community Christmas tree exhibition, will be held from tomorrow until Saturday, December 5, from 10am-4pm, except on Sundays when it is open from noon-4pm.

Admission is free but donations to church funds are welcome.

Many local businesses, organisations, churches and children are busy decorating trees for the exhibition and several of them, as well as individuals, will also be providing a variety of cribs and crackers for display in the church.

Visitors to the exhibition on Monday will also have the pleasure of a lunchtime organ recital, from 12.15-12.45pm, by the Archdeacon of Cleveland, the Ven Paul Ferguson, a former organ scholar at New College, Oxford.

Refreshments and soup lunches will also be available in the crypt on that day.

Exhibition organiser Julia Smith said: “St Mary’s Church is such a beautiful setting for this special Christmas tree exhibition.

“The exhibitors always show so much imagination and creativity, making this an exhibition all the family will enjoy.”