Sudbury Arts Centre displays 72 Christmas trees as first event

More than 70 Christmas trees are on display at a former church, for its first event as a new arts centre.

St Peter's in Sudbury, Suffolk, has undergone two years of refurbishments to turn it into a community arts venue.

The local Rotary club's annual Christmas tree festival is the first event to be held there since its reopening in October.

Many organisations donated trees for the event, which Rotarian Lesley Ford-Platt described as "magic".

"I think it's always lovely to see how clever people are and how everyone is quite different," said Ms Ford-Platt.

Community groups, local schools, charities, business and individuals donated trees, with each decorated in a unique theme.

Ms Ford-Platt said she expected thousands of people to visit the festival, with "coach loads" coming from "far and wide".

Rotary executive secretary Roger Green said of the Grade I listed building: "Many of the organisations in the town have relied on this building as their venue and people have come from all over the world... to enrich the life of the town.

"I think the Christmas tree festival does that as well."

He explained that the tree of memories - at the heart of the festival - was a place where people could hang notes for those they have "loved and lost".

Each year, the festival raises funds for a local charity, with this year's donations going to the counselling service Kernos Centre.

Rotary president Tony Platt said of the festival: "It really brings Christmas alive and everybody becomes aware of all the different communities and organisations that are involved."

All 72 trees will be on display daily until 10 December.

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