A DISPLAY of more than two dozen Christmas trees are lighting faces up at an Alloa church.

As part of what has been dubbed the Festival of Light, families and businesses sponsored and decorated festive spruces at St Mungo's Parish Church at the end of last week.

With the congregation's own memory tree and main Christmas tree, there are 27 evergreens on show and will remain in place for the service this weekend.

The idea was the brainchild of session clerk Marie Campbell, who has had a vision for the festival for some time.

Last Thursday, November 29, saw a social evening bringing everyone involved together to put the decorations up in a "lovely" atmosphere.

Marie told the Advertiser: "It was a real community event – that was really the whole purpose of it; to try something different and get people in."

And it all went down a treat with more than 200 people, all carrying bright smiles, checking out the display in just two days.

Originally plans were to keep the trees at the church, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary next year, for just the weekend.

However, Marie added: "We decided to keep them because everybody just loved them that much."

Positive comments in the visitors' book have been piling up since and Marie is certain the Festival of Light will become an annual event.

"It's quite something to see", she continued. "People were walking in the door – you could see everyone going 'wow' because they didn't expect all that to be there."

Thanks go to the many families and businesses who sponsored a tree, St Mungo's Session for permission as well as the team who helped with the prep work including Graham, Billy, Linda, Alice, Anne and Janette.

Marie added: "We just all loved it. The feeling of fellowship was amazing.

"When people were walking in the door with young families – everybody's face just lit up."

With the trees all in place, Sunday also saw a Christmas afternoon tea at the church with more than 50 people in attendance, thanks go to Leona Hens for singing.

Hats off also to Clackmannanshire Choral Society for closing the display on Saturday with a performance.