The man behind Brighstone's hugely successful Christmas Tree Festival is hanging up his baubles.

But, although the event will be re-modelled this year due to Covid reasons, it is hoped it will continue under new management.

The festival boasts more than 220 theme-decorated trees exhibited in various locations raising money for IW charities.

Earlier this month, it was announced Isle of Wight Pearl would host a mini-festival, following this year's main event being cancelled due to Covid.

The mini-festival will mark the organiser of the event, Chris Goodman's, last Brighstone Tree Festival.

Chris, who is 76, and has organised the festival since 2004, will retire after this year’s mini-event.

Starting in 1997, the first five years of the tree festival were small, with around 25 to 35 trees, but nowadays has grown with more and more applications.

The original venue was St Mary’s Church in Brighstone, but due to the scale of the festival today, the event now has various venues like Mottistone Church, Isle of Wight Pearl, and Wilberforce Hall.

Chris said: “The festival is a victim of its own success – it has got so big!”

In the first five years, the Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival raised £8,000, but the most recent event alone raised £14,500.

To date, nearly £150,000 has been raised by the event for charity.

Chris said: “It has been a pleasure to see the joy on people's faces and the money raised going to charities.

“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with such a wonderful team of people.”

Lizzie Wade, manager of Isle of Wight Pearl, is likely to take over as organiser of the festival, continuing Chris's legacy while adding fresh, new ideas to take it forward.

Chris said he would miss the people and comradery that the festival involves.

“I think Brighstone is a wonderful village, and they can take great pride in the festival.

"And I would like to say a big thank you to the many sponsors and exhibitors, but most importantly the visitors."