Christians of all denominations joined together across Wiltshire last week to mark Good Friday with ‘walks of witness’.

Wooden crosses were carried through the streets of Bratton, Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon, as the sound of hymns and brass bands rang out.

Villagers gathered at 10am at Bratton Baptist Church for the service, followed by plates of hot cross buns, before they set off to Picquet Hill with a wooden cross.

Parishioners from all the village’s churches joined the walk, with services and prayers held at various points up the hill.

John Drewett built the cross from trees he felled in a local wood. He said: “It stands out right across the skyline.

“We all take it in turns to carry it up. It’s always quite heavy, so we have got an idea of what Jesus had to do when he carried his.

“It brings all the different communities of the village together, the Baptists, Methodists, and some Roman Catholics.

“When we take it right up on top of the hill it makes a wonderful statement of our faith.”

In Trowbridge, worshippers joined the town’s street pastors and the Salvation Army band as they walked from Trowbridge United Church to the cenotaph in the park, stopping on Fore Street to sing In Christ Alone, and hear readings from the Gospel.

Bradford on Avon’s walk started in Westbury Gardens and led up the hill to Christ Church, where music and prayers were read out in the churchyard.

Winsley resident Gillian Hall joined the procession. She said: “It went very well, there are a lot more people here then there were last year.

“I like to come here every year to remember the death of Christ, so on Easter morning I can celebrate.”