A NEW book will be launched as part of festive celebrations at a popular Christmas Tree Festival.

More than 40 trees will be on display at St Mary’s Church in Lymm in early December.

There will also be live music, food and homemade goodies to enjoy.

The book Monty and Bertie to the Rescue, tells the story of how the church mouse and the church bat were rescued at St Mary’s.

 Written by a member of the congregation Vanessa Less and illustrated by Graham Edgar, it will be on sale at the event, priced £2.

All money raised will go to St Mary's.

Churchgoers have also been making toy bats and mile to sell on the stall and a mice trail has been created around the 43 trees which will be on display from December 6 to 8.

Rev Bev Jameson Rector. St Mary the Virgin Lymm and Chaplain to the Royal British Legion Lymm and District Branch. said: “The book is wonderful and great fun, we are so grateful to Vanessa and Graham, although there is rather a scary drawing of me in it.

“Our handmade bats and mice are just gorgeous. Do come along and enjoy the fine food and great entertainment at our Christmas Tree Festival.”

Vanessa Lees, author, said “At a meeting in church I was amused by spotting a real mouse popping his head round to look at us.

“I started thinking about the secret life of our church mice and bats and invented Monty and Bertie.

“I hope people enjoy their Christmas rescue mission as much as I enjoyed writing about them”

Also on sale will be homemade preserves, and Christmas cakes, presents and decorations. Tea, coffee and homemade cakes will be available in the Festival Café throughout the weekend, with soup and sandwiches served on Saturday and Sunday between 12pm and 2pm.

Choirs will perform each day. On Friday it is Lymm primary schools. On Saturday at 12pm, Lymm Golf Club Ladies Ukulele Band, 2pm Lymm & District Chorus 3.30pm Lymm High School Brass Band.

Sunday begins at 10am with a fun family service with Christmas songs and crafts.

The Serenade Singers will then perform at 12.30pm and Lymm Pop Choir at 2.00pm.

The festival is open 10am to 4pm on Friday and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.