THE Christmas tree stands 25 feet tall and took a team two days to decorate with 3,500 baubles - and the property is filled with hundreds of angels, seraphim and cherubs.

Welcome to Christmas at Castle Howard, where creative producer Charlotte Lloyd Webber and theatrical designer Bretta Gerecke have created a spectacular festive display. The tree is the biggest ever seen at the stately home near Malton and the angels and cherubs, which range from huge flying laser-cut figures to glass and ceramic baubles on trees in the grounds, were inspired by the Rubens painting The Nativity in the Long Gallery and the William Morris stained glass windows in the home’s chapel.

A huge gingerbread model of Castle Howard, created last year, has also returned.

Christmas at Castle Howard, which attracted more than 49,000 visitors last year, will run until December 23.