The festive season has arrived and a nativity festival and two Christmas tree events this weekend will start the celebrations.

The nativity festival at All Souls' Church in Netherton will feature nativity scenes of every size and colour, from every corner of the world to mark the beginning of Advent and the run up to Christmas.

Among the 30 or more stable scenes are large ones, small ones and everything in between, and in every material from wool to wood to Lego.

Kath Miller, one of the people behind the event, said it was hard to fill a large church with small Nativities but in this case there was something to look at in every nook and cranny.

"We are grateful to the businesses wh have supported us by sponsoring a window," she said.

The Nativity Festival begins on Friday from 1pm to 5pm and runs for the same time on Saturday. It will be open to the public from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday.

There will be a variety of stalls and refreshments

Entry is £2.

Meanwhile both St Mary's Church in Maryport and Christ Church in Allonby will be filled with Christmas trees.

The St Mary's festival will run from 10am to 4pm on Friday and Saturday.

Allonby's event will include a flower festival and trees decorated by community groups and individuals.

There will also be a memory tree where people can hang baubles bearing the names of loved ones.

There will be a raffle each day of the festival and festive refreshments.

Entry is free but any donations will go towards the cost of a new front door for the church.

The Allonby festival runs from 10am to 4pm on Friday and Saturday and from 12 to 4pm on Sunday.