A procession of 12-foot puppets and flaming torches in Grantham streets will add colour to celebrations in honour of St Wulfram.

The magnificent St Wulfram's Church will also be receiving the sole surviving relic from the church's French patron to mark the 1300th anniversary of his death in 720AD.

A shrine has been built to house the saintly relic, the skull of St Wulfram, as part of special Wulfram 2020 commemorations, and information boards are on display in advance of its March 20 arrival.

Father Stuart Craddock, rector of St Wulfram's Church says it is a rare show of ecumenical friendship and trust between the Catholic and Anglican churches and only the second time in some 500 years that such an event has taken place.

He continued: "We are extremely privileged to be able to welcome it to our church and the town. It's an act of Christian love between communities which is quite beautiful, an amazing ecumenical and geopolitical act of generosity."

St Wulfram's last remaining relic will be transported in a traditional gold ossuary by Dom Jean-Charles Nault, Abbot of Wandrille.

French ambassador Catherine Calonna will be at the March 20 celebrations, which start with a civic reception in the Guildhall followed by a procession with flaming torches through the streets before a service in St Wulfram's Church.

Huge 12-foot puppet images of Wulfram and Ragbod, the King of Fresia will be a procession highlight, together with 30 costumed monks, a band, the church choir and local children.

The church will be floodlit in the red, white and blue colours of the French national Tricolour flag and the service promises pomp and ceremony, with music and song reflecting the life of Wulfram and organ music by French composers.

Coun Annie Mason, South Kesteven District Council Cabinet member for communities, said: "St Wulfram's Church is at the heart of Grantham and plays a key role in the town. How amazing to witness this commemoration in such an ancient place of pilgrimage and prayer."

The Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire Toby Dennis and his deputy Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach will be attending, along with Lincolnshire High Sheriff William Day.

Senior French religious leaders will join senior representatives of the Diocese of Lincoln and representatives of all the Benedictene houses in England.

The relic is expected to stay on display in the church until the end of May, confirms Father Stuart Cradduck, who made the request for the saintly remains to come to Grantham.

The procession will leave St Peter' Hill at 6pm and wend its way onto the High Street, turning along Vine Street and onto Castlegate before arriving at the church.

The 6.30pm service, which will be live streamed and available on DVD, is free to attend, but tickets should be booked. Apply online to the Wulfram 2020 area of the church website.

St Wulfram was a 7th century missionary born around 650AD near Fontainebleu, south of Paris. He was canonised after numerous miracles, most relating to saving people from the sea, were attributed to him.