IT was standing room only at St Thomas Church, Launceston on Tuesday night when the annual Christmas with Causley service took place.

This event has now become a traditional way of starting off the festive season in Launceston and its mix of carols, poems, music and Christmas songs is proving ever more popular with each passing year.

Organised by Jane Nancarrow, of the Charles Causley Trust, one of the main attractions is the readings by children from local schools. This year, students Jenny Davies and Imogen Tate from Launceston College read They’re fetching in Ivy and Holly, Evie Asman, also of Launceston College, read Innocent’s Song, Liberty and Phoebe Scott from St Joseph’s School read Mary’s Song and a large group of pupils from St Stephen’s Primary School read a variety of Christmas poems.

Other poems read were Christmas at Les Baux and At Nine of the night, both by Charles Causley and The Oxen by Thomas Hardy.

As well as the traditional carols, supported by Carol Baker on the organ, music was also provided by Rob Parkin and singers Shelley Jeffery and Evie Hidderley.

A retiring collection raised more than £240 for the St Petroc’s Charity for the homeless.