Two feisty dragons have appeared in a St Albans churchyard to celebrate literacy in the district. 

Alex Baranovskij carved the wooden chair and circle of benches in St Peter’s churchyard ready for the first St Albans Gorsedd, a celebration of the bardic arts of storytelling, music, poetry and song.

The chair and benches were made out of a mature cedar tree that felled in the storms of last winter.  

The Reverend Anne Hollinghurst, vicar of St Peter’s, said: "We were sorry to lose the tree but thrilled that Alex took on the challenge of giving it new life by turning it into such a wonderful creation. 

"Stories are important to both children and adults. Through them we explore who we and others are and what our world is like."

The carvings are the result of the church’s latest project led by Paul Cartwright working with students and alumni of the University of Hertfordshire on art installations at St Peter's.