RECORD numbers attended Christmas services at Blackburn Cathedral over the festive period.

And the Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, believes the upturn could be a reaction to the aggressive secularism' during the months leading up to the festive season.

In his Christmas sermon the Bishop of Blackburn said he feared an "addiction to consumerism" was over-shadowing the story of Christmas.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Reade also attacked people's pursuit of the "hollow consumerism dream".

His words followed on from criticism of the lack of religion in this year's Christmas cards by the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev John Goddard.

And Mr Armstrong believes that this lack of religion had made Christians in the Blackburn Diocese, covering East Lancashire, more determined to celebrate the religious meaning.

He said: "I think this is not only a strong reaction on the part of some to aggressive forms of secularism which have been much in evidence in the past months.

"But there is also a clear sense, talking to people, that the story of Christmas continues to captivate and move all who hear it.

"It was the spirit of people attending that was most striking - the thoughtfulness and calmness, the warmth between friends and strangers alike.

"This is surely an encouraging sign in the context of our hopes for a more cohesive community."

Mr Armstrong said there were 500 at Midnight Mass, 300 more than normal.

The same was true for the popular Crib service, the Dean said.

He added: "In the past we've had 350-400 people. This year there were over 500." In addition, well over 1,000 people attended the ever-popular Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

He also said that the daily lunchtime school carol services from the start of December had brought thousands of people into the cathedral.