Christmas events from a church can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home.

It's obviously needed because of the pandemic but St George's Church in Deal is relaying a carol concert and services via video link.

Carols by Candlelight this year will be premiered via the church's YouTube channel at 7pm on Sunday (December 20).

You can sing along or listen to traditional carols or contemporary numbers, newly recorded and from previous years.

Musicians include worship co-ordinator Ben Wash, curate Ben Forbes plus Joy Spencer and Felicity Smart.

Vicar Chris Spencer said: "Christmas isn’t cancelled, we’re just celebrating it differently.

"We’ll tell again the story of Christmas with words of encouragement and hope as we draw towards the end of a strange and difficult year for many."

Christingle will be conveyed via YouTube at 4pm next Thursday, Christmas Eve.

Worshippers at home are invited to enhance the atmosphere by encouraging their children to dress as nativity characters.

St George's junior singers lead the singing, and a special feature this year is a joint recording of classes from Deal Parochial, Warden House and The Downs Primary Schools.

You’ll need a kit with all the components and these are available free from St Georges in advance.

Email shiela.porter@stgdeal.com and collect from the front of the St George's Road church between 10am and noon on Saturday.

The church also invites families to upload photos of their children dressed up and of your Christingle on its Facebook page.

Christmas morning sees the climax of the events, with an all-age celebration of carols and fun at 10:30am.

People are meeting on Zoom and streaming over YouTube for up to an hour, giving everyone the chance to talk together.

Mr Wash said: “We’ve had some fun recording with our musicians this year and dipping into our archives from the past.

"So we’d love to be able to welcome everyone to join in our Christmas celebrations – online.

"It’s been a difficult year, but the Christmas message is about Jesus coming to be the true light in the darkness and to bring us real hope for the future.

"So there is still lots to celebrate.”

All links can be found at stgdeal.org and facebook.com/stgdeal

Read more: All the latest news from Deal