Royal backing for special Hexham Abbey carol service celebrating community spirit

Jonny Blair attended the service at Hexham Abbey which is one of 15 around the UK supported by The Princess of Wales and the Royal Foundation charity

A special service has been held in Northumberland to celebrate the county's community spirit.

The event, at Hexham Abbey, also thanked individuals, organisations and charities which go "above and beyond" to help people.

Songs, speeches and readings made up the hour-and-a-half long service, which also had the support of the Princess of Wales.

The Rector of Hexham, Reverend Canon David Glover, told ITV Tyne Tees: "We want to celebrate the good news of people of service, empathy and grace in the county of Northumberland, to say thank you to them.

"If people go away feeling thanked and uplifted, that will be brilliant."

Around 400 people attended. Many of those were specially invited, including representatives of charities, the armed forces and people who volunteer in the community.

Organisers wanted those attending the carol service to be 'uplifted'. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

The Lord-Lieutenant for Northumberland, Dr Caroline Pryor, was one of the organisers.

She said "One of our themes is saying 'yes.' So there are lots of volunteers, community leaders, businesses, charities who are all saying 'yes' to people within the community.

"We've brought in representatives of all of those groups so that we have a good cross-section from all over Northumberland. Absolutely everywhere, rural and urban.

"Everybody who is in Northumberland, I hope, will hear one word that will mean something to them."

The event at Hexham is supported by The Princess of Wales and the Royal Foundation charity.

It is one of 15 services being held around the UK, linked to Together At Christmas, the annual carol service at Westminster Abbey spearheaded by her Royal Highness.

Reverend Canon Glover said it was "wonderful" to be a part of something national, "something that's important to the Princess of Wales."

Together At Christmas will be shown on ITV1 on Christmas Eve.

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