ELEVEN-year-old Rowan Crook ensured his school’s Christmas tree was one of the star attractions at a festive tree festival in his village church.

The youngster, who attends Hagbourne CofE Primary School, was one of the children invited to decorate a tree at St Andrew’s Church in East Hagbourne.

The church appealed to local community groups and organisations to sponsor and decorate their own Christmas trees, to be on show in the church in the run-up to Christmas.

And the tree provided by Rowan’s school was one of the most colourful in the festival.

Rowan said: “It was great fun decorating the tree. We made the decorations ourselves. I made one of the fairies that we put up. I’m now looking forward to decorating the one at home this weekend.”

Headteacher Richard Jones, said: “It is the first time the church has staged a Christmas tree bonanza.

“The children loved the whole process. It might become a village tradition.”

Rowan’s mother Victoria Crook said: “It was a really lovely event.

“It is a marvellous idea that seemed to bring the whole community together.”

The festival runs in the church until Tuesday.