A church encouraged people to hang a ‘prayer for peace’ at its Christmas market this year, in light of the Paris shootings and other horrific events around the globe.

Visitor’s to St Leonard’s Church in Sandridge on Saturday (November 28) wrote out brief prayers to hang on a Christmas prayer tree as well as visiting a variety of seasonal stalls which were on offer.

The prayers will be used during the church’s Christmas services.

Reverend Pater Crumpler, Curate at St Leonard’s, said: “It was good to see so many people at the market and there was a real buzz for much of the time.

“Visitors really responded to the prayer tree that we placed in a quiet corner of the church.

“They either wrote their own simple prayers for peace or used some printed prayers that we left near the tree.

“We plan to use the prayers in services over advent and Christmas.”