A COMMUNITY church was filled with Christmas cheer as families turned out for one of the most festive nights of the year.

St James' Church in Blake Street, Barrow, was filled to capacity with family and friends looking for the perfect start to their festive season.

The annual Evening Mail carol concert has always been a huge success and this year was no different as the North Barrow Team of Churches and St James' Church of England Junior School performed some well-loved carols and Christmas readings.

Members of the congregation were welcomed with the sound of Creator of the Starry Height before the joint church choirs processed up the aisle to firm favourite O Little Town of Bethlehem.

The choirs then led the congregation in singing a number of popular classics including Unto Us is born a Son and The Holly Bears a Berry.

A number of representatives from the community also took to the lectern to read some key passages from scripture.

However, it was pupils from St James' School who stole the show with their fantastic musical performances.

The School Hand Chimes Ensembles took on the traditional classic of Good King Wenceslas which was performed to perfection before the school choir livened up the evening with some more modern pieces such as Riding Out and Ding Dong.

Reverend Jack Knill-Jones, Team Rector of North Barrow Churches, then addressed the congregation and spoke about the offer of renewal given to us at Christmas.

He said: "What a difference a year makes. This time last year we were all recovering from Storm Desmond.

"If we think about water, water holds the power to renew and revive and it's critical to God's promise of a new creation that begins with the birth of Jesus and is completed with his return to glory.

"His coming offers us hope in place of despair."

The evening then finished with traditional classics O Come, All Ye Faithful and Angels from the Realms of Glory as a collection was made for the Evening Mail's chosen charities, the Barrow and District Disability Association and the Aimee Robinson fund.