A three-day celebration of the Christmas tree has delighted more than 1,000 visitors in Otley.

The young and young at heart poured into All Saints’ Parish Church to be treated to a visual festive wonderland.

The 36 trees – all donated by Stephen H Smith garden centre – on display had each been decorated by local charities and community groups, and featured everything from the Queen and her corgis to Stars Of Remembrance.

One of the most striking was the entry by the Otley branch of the Royal British Legion, which was covered in hand-knitted red poppies.

Organisers Otley Chamber of Trade, who launched the event to much acclaim last year, were delighted to see people turning out in large numbers once again.

President Tim Wilkinson said: “We are absolutely delighted and think we had in excess of 1,000 visitors, which included 70 schoolchildren, with the Saturday, especially, being very busy.

“The event is steadily growing and we aim for it to become a firm fixture in the festive calendar for the benefit of the town, its visitors and its children, as well as the church and all the local charities who take part.

“The chamber would like to thank all the businesses who helped, including those who supported materials and effort, and to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.”

The chamber staged the first festival in 2011 to both add another festive attraction to the town – thereby supporting its Shop Local and Otley Prospers campaign – and to help local charities, who have collection tins beside their trees.

MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) was among the visitors this year, and also attended the end of festival service at All Saints’ on Sunday.

He said: “The Christmas Tree Festival is a fabulous event and great for Otley, and I am really pleased that so many charities, businesses and community groups support it.

“It really brings the community together at such a special time of year, and brings the Christmas spirit home.

“Many charities are helped by the festival and I hope that it will become a permanent Christmas fixture and a new tradition for our town.”

Otley Town Council leader Councillor John Eveleigh (Lab, Ashfield) also praised the chamber and church for staging another highly successful event.

He said: “The number of trees, decorated by local charities and organisations, demonstrates that many groups value the opportunity of putting their services in the spotlight.

“And judging by the numbers of visitors, at least while I was there, this is another Otley event that many will be hoping becomes an annual festival.”