CROWDS of people watched a moving performance of Settle's tenth Passion Play.

Put on by Settle and District Churches Together, the event, which plays out the Passion of Jesus Christ, drew crowds of nearly 200 people on Good Friday.

Scenes from the play depict Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Christ receiving cruel treatment at the hands of Roman soldiers and putting Jesus on the cross.

There was a cast of over 30 people drawn from Settle churches and Settle itself, plus a number of 'extras' for the crowd scene in the market place. Joe Dillon, 21, of Hellifield, played the part of Jesus.

Including the stage manager Sally Waterson, the sound man John Diggles, the men from the Catholic Church and others who acted as marshals, and the Mother's Union who served the coffee and hot-cross buns afterwards, there were over 50 people involved.

The Rev Stephen Dawson, who has been helping with the play for four years, said: “This year the new actors and producer brought a fresh realism to the story of the first Holy Week and many people were moved beyond words.”

Producer Michael Cullingworth, of Settle, said: "It was one of the most moving performances and many who witnessed it were moved to tears."