THE build-up to Christmas continued last weekend with the annual Penarth charity Christmas Tree Festival which proved as popular as ever.

The crowds of visitors entering the side aisles of St Augustine's Church, the scene was a riot of light and colour, rows of ingenious, traditional and attractively decorated trees - all 43 lit up and mounted platforms.

One of the many wonderful trees that especially caught the eye was made in the form of Penarth Library.

Meantime, local choirs, soloists, bands and instrumentalists, some of them young and prodigiously talented, sang and played their best to add to the pleasure of the occasion.

The festival started on Saturday morning, with more children and parents than ever enjoying breakfast and having a word with Santa Claus, in the Parish Hall, then walking up through the park in procession led by the town piper, Alex Fender, and Santa.

Then the town mayor, Councillor Neil Thomas, cut the crimson tape to declare the festival open. Back in the hall visitors were served welcome refreshments throughout the festival.

Over 1800 people including many children came to look at the trees.

The net proceeds will be shared equally between this year's three chosen charities, Llamau, Mind in the Vale and Mfuwe Village Orphanage, Zambia, with each receiving the some of £800.

The winning trees by category were:

Children - gold St Augustine's Sunday School, 'the family tree'; silver Evenlode Primary School, 'the gingerbread man tree'; bronze Llandough Primary School, 'A#& exciting Christmas (with out Christmas would Bb)'.

Family - gold the Williams family, 'baa humbug'; silver Gloria and Alan Gill, 'ding dong merrily on high'; bronze Mrs P Hoare and charlotte, 'Nutcracker'.

Charity - Gold Llamau, 'a tree by John Rowley'; silver Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, 'flying high'; bronze Ty Hafan, 'the abracadagbra tree'.

Group - gold Penarth and District Quilters, 'the holly and the ivy'; silver Friends of Llandough WI, 'all things bright and beautiful'; bronze friends of Belle Vue Park, 'the giant pine cone'.

Organisation - gold Sully WI, 'the knitted Nativity'; silver Penarth Library, 'libraries aren't just for Christmas'; bronze Penarth and Lesotho Trust, 'under driftwood'.

Business- gold ACJ, 'tree house'; silver JM Textiles, 'a whole school of shirts, ties, socks'; bronze Performing Art Academy, 'take note'.

Winner of public vote was Penarth Library, 'libraries aren't just for Christmas'.