Despite the closure of church buildings across the region, worship has continued remotely.

A number of services are being streamed using online platforms, as Tynedale celebrates its first virtual Holy Week.

Churches, including St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and Hexham Trinity Methodist, will all mark Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, using social media.

It comes following the cancellation of the traditional Good Friday procession and Easter Sunrise Service, planned for Hexham, due to the spread of the coronavirus.

Fr Christopher Warren, of St Mary’s, Hexham, is due to give his Good Friday address, which would typically be delivered on the walk of witness, at 10am, via the St Mary’s Live Stream.

And Easter Sunday will be celebrated with services, using Zoom, by Hexham Trinity Methodist Church and St Mary’s, whilst the Tynedale Methodist Circuit will provide worshippers with videos of reflection, from Rev. Paul Dunstan.

At Haltwhistle Methodist Church, Rev. Alex Dunstan will deliver sermons to commemorate the week, and to complement the thought of the day page on the church’s website.

Rev. Alex Dunstan said: “This situation is both a challenge and an opportunity and in some ways, we are reaching people we wouldn’t have usually, which is is great.”