Last weekend's Sunday morning service at St Michael's Church in Helston was a little out of the ordinary with members of the congregation invited to bring their pets.

The invitation was taken up by a good number of parishioners resulting in the service being hailed a great success, attracting a good sized congregation of pets of all shapes and sizes and their owners.

All the animals were taken up to have a blessing by the Rev Jane Bradbury, who conducted the service. Among those blessed were various breeds of dogs, a hen, a tortoise, rabbit, gerbils and guinea pigs.

The pet service was held to commemorate the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, which this year fell on the Sunday. Rev Jane preached her sermon on the life of St Francis, who is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his love of animals and nature.