VOTES for women, lost property and football on the Western Front are not the obvious themes for decorating a Christmas tree.

However, at the Christmas Tree Festival at St John’s with St Mary’s parish church in Devizes there are a diverse range of decorated trees on show with the proceeds from donations and refreshments going to local charities.

The Canon Paul Richardson said the festival included 70 different designs submitted from schools, businesses, churches, charity and community groups. It was a way of bringing the community together he said and hopefully make a donation towards the appeal and a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas.

The MP Claire Perry judged the trees last Saturday saying she was overwhelmed by the standard and varied themes on display.

The results were as follows: the winners of the senior section were the Sidmouth Club for Alzheimer’s with their striking theme in red and white.

Next in the junior category was the Five lanes Primary School, Potterne. Their theme was the Christmas truce on the Western Front during the Great War when an unofficial peace broke out in no-man’s land.

They crafted handmade figures of German and British soldiers playing football, singing carols and talking to each other on Christmas day during a brief cessation of hostilities.

The award for the best theme was made to the Carers Nest Pre-school in Potterne, with their interpretation of The Nativity Story. It was of a tree covered in photos of the children dressed in their nativity costumes.

Awards were also made for artistic themes to the Caenhill Countryside Centre with a theme of “You are my sunflower” and St Peter's Church who created the story of St Peter the Fisherman.

Highly commended trees were: Devizes Flower Club, "Let nature dress the trees"; Long Street Dental Practice, "‘tis the season for happy smiles"; Market Lavington Nursing home, "Pearls of wisdom"; Bradbury Manor, "Actions can speak louder than words"; Southbroom St. James Academy, "It’s a jolly holiday with Mary"; and Rowdeford School, "While shepherds watched their flocks by night."

The free to enter festival continues to Twelfth Night daily form 3-5pm, with a Celebration on Friday, December 14, at 7pm when refreshments are on offer.