SPECIAL church services to support children across Dorset will take place throughout December.

Churches across the county are inviting people to support a Christingle celebration in aid of The Children's Society.

Everyone is welcome to join the festivities and all money raised will go towards helping the children the charity works with, including those who go missing from home or experience hardship, abuse and neglect.

Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said: “It’s fantastic that so many Christingle events are happening across Dorset to help vulnerable children and we’re truly grateful to everyone who attends for their support.

“For many young people experiencing huge challenges in their lives the only promise of Christmas is that the bad things in their lives will feel much worse.

"Some will feel so unsafe, unloved, and unable to cope that they’ll run away from home. These Christingle events make it possible for us to support these young people to have better lives and make a real difference to the children in need of our help.”

Services will take place on Sunday at St Michael and All Angels in Mill Lane, Sopley at 4pm, St Mary's Church in Colehill Road, Poole at 4pm, St Aldhelm's Church, Branksome House at 3pm, Sherborne Abbey at 5pm and St Thomas Church in Ensbury Park at 6pm.

On Saturday, December 16, a service will take place at St James Church, Shaftesbury at 4.30pm and on Sunday December 17 at 10.30am at St Clement's Church in Boscombe.

To find out more go to christingle.org.