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Wiltshire in Pictures: Star Wars and 'Fudgehenge'

Getty Images A close up of three people lighting dozens of candles in darkness in Salisbury CathedralGetty Images
The darkness to light service at Salisbury Cathedral marked the start of Advent

Christmas is fast approaching and festive events are already under way across Wiltshire this week.

Choristers sang by candlelight during the advent procession at Salisbury Cathedral.

And to get visitors in the festive spirit, a magical light trail awaits visitors to the National Trust's Stourhead estate.

Here is a selection of the best pictures from across the county.

PA Media An aerial shot from high in Salisbury Cathedral looking down in darkness at a choir with each singer holding a lighted candle, looking out towards the congregation.PA Media

Advent: More than 1,300 candles were gradually lit for the annual Darkness to Light service at Salisbury Cathedral on 29 November, which is one of the most popular events of the liturgical year.

People walking at night time through a tunnel made of walls of tiny fairy lights
Someone dressed as Santa at night time standing outside a wooden hut decorated with festive green foliage, lanterns, Santa's canvas bag and a small child's sledge propped at the side

After-dark: Visitors to the National Trust's Stourhead are in for a magical treat with the annual Christmas light trail through the estate, which runs until 1 January 2025.

If you are lucky, you may even spot Santa between the trees.

Getty Images Workmen in high-vis jackets and hard helmets carry a huge Christmas tree through one of the ancient corridors at Salisbury Cathedral.Getty Images

No ordinary assignment: The works yard team at Salisbury Cathedral had the daunting task of bringing the 29ft high Christmas tree into the building, where it will stay until Candlemas on 2 February. The Nordmann Fir tree comes from Longleat Forest.

Characters from Star Wars lined up in a warehouse with three Ewoks and R5-D4.
A close up of Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars.

Sci-fi: Star Wars fans have been getting up close to their favourite characters ahead of an auction of movie memorabilia in Chippenham.

The film props and outfits are being sold by Luke Kaye, who ran Skywalkers costume shop in Swindon.

A man in a high-vis jacket leaning on, and standing in front of, bales of metallic recycling - mainly crushed cans.

Rubbish: Swindon Borough Council's councillor, Chris Watts, is pictured surrounded by colourful recycling bales, following the council's investment of £1m for a new recycling machine.

The hope is that the machine will boost recycling rates in the area and make money for the council through selling-off recycled materials.

Five free-standing structures made of fudge in the shape of the Stonehenge stones, with Christmas tree and Santa ornaments in the foreground, along with a board reading Fudgehenge.

Sweet: For when mince pies and a yule log simply will not do the job, Salisbury confectioners Rolys have created a magnificent diorama of world heritage site Stonehenge - or Fudgehenge - made entirely of fudge.

Santa makes an appearance too - of course.

Christmas tree made out of toothbrushes, in a church

Treefest: Many wonderful reinterpretations of the classic Christmas tree are on display at St Thomas' Church in The Maltings, Salisbury.

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