OTLEY’S eighth Christmas Tree Festival is up and running.

Otley Bellman Terry Ford declared this year’s event at the Parish Church open at noon on Wednesday, December 12 when Guiseley Brass Band also performed.

The church is now filled with 42 twinkling trees, decorated by local charities and groups, that can be viewed from 10am to 6pm daily through to Saturday, December 15. They can also be viewed on Sunday, December 16 following the church’s 10am service and will then feature in the 4pm Christmas Tree Carol Service.

The festival is free to enter but visitors are encouraged to make donations to charity buckets beneath their favourite trees. It will feature daily live musical performances and there will also be an evening concert, at 7pm on Friday, by Chippendale Singers and Westgate Primary School Choir.