In pictures: The spectacular festive Luminaria event at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge

Luminaria, a light and sound spectacular featuring the girls’ choir at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, returned this year amid freezing winter temperatures.

Luminaria: A Ceremony of Light, to give it its full title, is a festive event held outdoors – which started in 2017 but didn’t take place over the last two years – followed by a concert in the college chapel.

Dr Edward Wickham, fellow and director of music at St Catharine’s College, conducted the choir.

He said: “It was terrific to have so many people – over 350 – brave the cold to experience this unique event.

“The girls managed to stay focused despite the blazing fire and icy temperatures, helped by some subtly stashed hand-warmers, which our sound engineer kindly supplied. We are hugely thankful to Mills & Reeve for their support as our sponsor.”

The Rev Ally Barrett, St Catharine’s dean of chapel, lit the fire and led the service, with the event raising more than £400 for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity through cash donations – though the card reader donations helped raise the total to just over £700.