CHRISTIANS around the county took part in services and marches of witness to commemorate Good Friday.

In Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Bradford on Avon and Melksham people gathered together to mark the sacrifice of Jesus 2,000 years ago.

In Trowbridge members of various churches joined together to carry a cross through the streets to recreate the story of the crucifixion of Christ.

Jeremy Francis from Trowbridge Area Churches Together said the event was planned in the hope that people would join in rather than ignoring the spectacle as might have happened in Jesus' time.

He said: "Crucifixion being fairly common in the Roman Empire in those days, most of the people probably ignored what was happening, and just got on with their own business. We now know that it was part of a world-changing event.

"We hope you will not be like the people of Jerusalem two millennia ago, who walked by, ignoring what was taking place."

In Westbury around 60 people gathered at the Rotunda in the High Street in a vigil held by Westbury Churches Together.

They then carried a cross through the streets to the Methodist Church for a united act of worship led by the Rev Mary Teed.

The Rev Paul Richardson of Westbury Churches Together said: "It was a good turn out and we were pleased with how it went and it was a glorious day."

In Bradford on Avon 65 people met at Westbury Gardens to march steadily up the hill to Christ Church.

Members of many of the different churches in the town took part in the Follow the Cross procession.

The Rev Ron Lowrie from Christ Church said: "We were really pleased with the number of people that turned out this year and the weather was glorious.

"The good thing about this event is that it brings all the churches together."

At St John's School, Trowbridge the children held their own Easter production to mark the events of 2,000 years ago.

Years three and four produced a short meditation on the way of the cross, with children using the grounds of the school as a stage as parents looked on, experiencing the journey of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Deputy head Marian Morgan said: "The children responded to this task magnificently. Many parents reported to the school on how moved they were."