Narnia came to a village this weekend to raise funds to repair the roof on a medieval church.

St Leonard's Church in Flamstead held a Narnia-themed Winter Flower Festival, with help from the St Albans Abbey Flower Guild, to raise money to repair their roof.

There were 80 different dried and fresh displayed, organised across three days by 57 arrangers and accompanied by life-size models of characters from CS Lewis books.

Organiser Jackie Scopes said: "When the vicar persuaded me a year ago to organise a winter flower festival, it led me to the idea of a Narnia theme, which binds the religious elements in with the artistic.

"Even though I’d designed it, I was absolutely amazed by the standard of what the arrangers produced. They really pulled out all the stops, and the results were of cathedral quality, which is quite something for a small village church.

"I am absolutely euphoric."

Money raised through the festival will go to the Flamstead Heritage fund, which will raise money to fix the church's roof an maintain the 12th century murals inside.

Andrew Lambourne, Flamstead Heritage fundraising coordinator, said: "This event was a fantastic success – not just in raising money, but in proving how valuable this beautiful 12th century church is as an asset for the whole community.

"It provides a unique setting in which art of all kinds can be appreciated and enjoyed, and that message is core as we bid to Heritage Lottery and other funders for help to save the church for future generations."

People from the village also contributed by helping bake cakes, sell tickets, run the raffle and serving refreshments on the day.

Around 1,000 people visited the event, and the church hope to raise around £10,000.

For more information about the Flamstead Heritage project, visit www.flamsteadheritage.org