A CHURCH congregation held a flower festival with a celebrations theme - as it had its own reason to celebrate.

Members of Trinity Methodist Church, in Spennymoor, hosted the event to mark the 25th anniversary of a refurbishment which breathed new life into the church.

When the two-storey building, in Rosa Street, was redeveloped in 1982, the church moved upstairs for worship.

Extra halls and a kitchen and toilets were created on the ground floor for meetings and events, which can be rented by other groups, generating income for the church.

On Saturday and Sunday, visitors admired 28 displays depicting church celebrations - from Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas, to fairs and groups that contribute to church life.

The event attracted 150 visitors and ticket and food sales raised almost £800 towards the present refurbishment to make it more accessible to disabled people.

Organiser Christine Jones said: "The refurbishment 25 years ago made a vast difference to the church, so many more groups could use it with the extra accommodation created.

"The present work to make it more accessible is just as important."

The Reverend Chris Sharp, who was minister at the re-opening service in 1982, returned to lead a service that concluded the weekend's celebrations.