HELMSLEY will host its second spectacular Christmas Tree Festival.

Following the success of last year’s event, which attracted 2,500 visitors and raised £4,000 for good causes, 30 Christmas trees, individually decorated by different organisations with a theme of Christmas carols, will light up All Saints Church every day until December 19.

There will also be a festive trail around the town, where visitors can count up the number of teddies in the Christmas window displays and then be entered into a prize draw.

The event is free but visitors can make a voluntary donation to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, St Catherine’s Hospice, All Saints Church and Helmsley in Business, which organises events in the town.

The festival will launch with an event tomorrow (Thursday), at 7pm, with mince pies, a glass of wine and music.

This is preceded at 6pm by the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree by St Catherine’s Hospice, accompanied by the Bilsdale Brass Band.

On Saturday, as part of Small Business Saturday, there will be a day of festive fun in Helmsley.

There will be competitions, giveaways, a fun photobooth, a dog fancy dress show, children’s activities, including storytelling and puppetry, a man crèche, street food tastings, drop-in craft workshops and Santa’s sleigh.

Chris Garnett, chairman of the Helmsley in Business group, which organises the Christmas Tree Festival, said: “Helmsley is going to be truly magical this Christmas.

“We’ve invested in more festive lights and decorations, so the town will be beautifully lit up all in white.”

For more information go to www.visithelmsley.co.uk