PARISHIONERS of a Whitefield church will join 100,000 singers from all over the region in a huge carol service for Christmas.

Members of St Andrew's Church, on the Hillock estate, will take part in a carol service on Sunday, December 19 at 6pm.

At the same time, churches elsewhere in the region will be holding similar services for the Real Christmas event.

Real Christmas is a Stockport-based charity working to keep the story of Christmas alive through carol singing and BBC GMR will be on hand to broadcast live from a church in Didsbury.

Rev Andy Williams said: "We will tune in to the broadcast and join in the carols. Many people enjoy singing Christmas carols and this is a chance for anyone to come along and join in some favourites.

"It is also an opportunity to take some time out from all the rushing about and hear once again the real reason for Christmas - the birth of a baby, Jesus, who was to be our saviour."

Rev Williams encouraged everybody to join in the event, even people who had not been to church for some time.

He added: "We had a successful event last and nearly 300 churches took part. At our church we nearly doubled our congregation. I think it is a great idea."

For more details log onto www.carolservice.co.uk or contact Rev Williams on 0161 766 1635.