Families are being invited to spend an evening this month remembering their loved ones.

On December 7, the Vale Royal Crematorium is holding its annual Carol and Memorial service.

The service, which is due to take place, will provide families and friends with the opportunity to come together to remember their loved ones in the run up to Christmas.

Vale Royal Crematorium manager Dave Haslam believes the service ‘provides a fitting way for people to reflect and honour their loved ones during the festive season’.

He added: “For some, especially if they are quite recently bereaved, the festive period is often a time when they feel their loss more.

“The service provides a chance for people to not only pay tribute to their loved ones but also be in the company of other people who are in a similar situation, which in itself can be a source of comfort.

"Our Christmas carol service is open for anyone and everyone who lives, works or who is visiting the communities surrounding our crematorium in leading up to Christmas. Everyone is welcome."

Visitors will get the chance to write personal message tags for their loved ones, which will be put onto a memory tree, and light commemorative candles.

It will also include a selection of readings and popular Christmas carols.

Visitors will also be able to post cards and letters in the crematorium's ‘Letters to Heaven’ post box. It is hoped that by doing this, bereaved individuals will feel more connected to their loved ones.

Donations will be invited in aid of St Luke’s Hospice.

The service is free to attend but wanting to attend are asked to inform the crematorium in advance by emailing valeroyal@westerleighgroup.co.uk.

Those who are unable to attend on the night but wish to view the service as a live webcast should visit https://events.obitus.com/, enter the username ‘valeroyal’ and the password ‘star'.

For those not able to watch it live, or who would like to see it again, the service will be available to view online as a ‘watch again’ option, using the same details above, from Monday, December 11, for 28 days.