ACTRESS and film star Miriam Margolyes dropped into Dalby Forest at the weekend to judge a children’s Christmas Tree competition.

Ms Margolyes’s role in the Forestry Commission-run contest was to choose the winning tree out of those decorated by local school children, based on a Dickensian theme.

Speaking about the competition, Ms Margolyes said: “What a marvellous selection of decorated Christmas trees.

“The schools have done a great job creating fabulous Dickens-themed decorations. I like all of the trees - it is very difficult to choose.

“The winner is the tree decorated by Kirkbymoorside Primary School.

“What I found special about this tree was the oranges in the shape of baskets with the sweets in. That really touched my heart.”

The winners of the public vote was Northstead Primary School in Scarborough. Both Kirkbymoorside and Northstead primary schools will receive a session with Scarborough-based company Hidden Horizons to learn more about the ecology of the forest.

Ms Margolyes plays the role of Mrs Fisk in the new film The Man Who Invented Christmas. She is visiting the area as part of the Malton Dickensian Festival, which ran until Sunday in Malton. Dalby Forest donated two Christmas trees as part of the celebrations.