AUTUMN-themed poems, songs and plays provided a fitting backdrop to harvest festival celebrations for youngsters at Crowcombe and Stogumber Primary Schools.

Pupils from both schools, their families, school governors and staff packed Crowcombe's Church of the Holy Ghost for the special service last Friday.

And in keeping with tradition, the children brought gifts of local produce, along with tins and packets of food.

Among the donations were apples from the orchards at Pixford Fruit Farm in Bishops Lydeard and jams and chutneys made by the schools' gardening club.

Pupils wrote poems and prayers specifically for the service and also acted out a story showing what life would have been like for Victorian children at harvest time.

Teacher Jilly Russell said the celebration had been "beautiful".

"The church was packed and it was a really lovely service," she said.

The children's gifts - which filled at least one car - were taken to a Taunton-based charity helping people in need.

Photo: Steve Guscott