Children around the world was the theme of this year's Carols @The Belfry.

More than 1,000 people packed the Belfry Centre in Redhill on Sunday for the annual carol service organised by Churches Together in Redhill and Salfords.

As well as saying prayers for children around the world this year's service featured children from St Matthew's and St Joseph's school choirs.

And there was a special performance by 10-year-old Sean Dunn, who wrote and composed the carol Christmas Calypso. Sean, a pupil at St Joseph's School in Redhill, played the music on the keyboard as his classmates sang his carol.

And it was an emotional occasion as it was the last service the vicar of St Matthew's in Redhill, Canon Nicky Tredennick, will attend before she retires from her ministry.

She was presented with a framed print of a photograph taken by Life photographer Niall O'Mara at the 2003 service.

John Capon, of Churches Together, said: "There wasn't a dry eye in the house. The whole thing was wonderful. We think it was one of the highest attendances we have ever had. The difficulty each year is how we are going to do better next year."

The mayor Frances Dixon and borough inspector Bob Jenkin read two of the lessons at the service.

The retiring collection raised £1,090 which will be split between Save the Children, Merstham Community Playlink and Reigate and Redhill YMCA's Yippee project for children with special needs.