THE 17th Penarth Christmas Tree Festival is set to take place this weekend.

The annual festival will be taking place on Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10 at St Augustine's Church.

Nearly fifty trees will be on display at the event having been decorated by local individuals, families, businesses and charities.

The festival will be opened by the town mayor at 11am and will be open for visitors until 5pm on Saturday.

On Sunday it will be open between 12pm and 5pm.

There will also be live music performed at the festival.

The proceeds are being divided between three charities including one locally based, one national and one international.

This year the international charity being supported is the Patagonia Instruments Project, the national charity is Muscular Dystrophy and local charity is the Huggard Centre in Cardiff.

Last year the three charities supported each received over £1,000.

This year the festival will close on Sunday with an evening concert of Christmas music.

The programme includes "A Ceremony of Carols" by Benjamin Britten and other Christmas choral music.

The St Augustine's Singers under director Robert Court will perform featuring harpist Valerie Aldrich Smith and organist David Geoffrey Thomas.

The concert begins at 7.30pm with an admission charge of £7 an £5 for concessions and under 18s.