Despite the blustery, cold and damp weather conditions scores of residents turned out tonight for the Carol service and the ceremony to light the parish council’s Christmas tree on Chicken's Green in Blackhall Colliery.
The parish council chairman Cllr Gaynor Crute got the event started by introducing the children of Blackhall Colliery and St Joseph's RC primary schools who sang a selection of traditional Christmas carols. Fr Kyle then blessed the tree before the children joined in the countdown to the tree lighting.
As ever, many thanks go to the clerk, chairman and members of Monk Hesleden Parish Council, the parish council staff and Fr Kyle. And of course a special thank you goes to the pupils and staff from both Blackhall Colliery and St Joseph's primary schools for coming along each year to get the Christmas period properly underway with their usual enthusiasm and lovely singing.