PENNINGTON streets will be alive with the sound of music when locals take part in North West Sings, a huge musical celebration of the spirit of Christmas.

On Sunday, December 19 churches and community groups all over Greater Manchester and beyond will host over 100 simultaneous Christmas carol services.

The venues will be linked together through a live broadcast on BBC GMR and at six o'clock precisely on the whole of Greater Manchester will burst into song.

There's an open invitation to join the event at Pennington Church on Schofield Street in Leigh.

Organiser Phil Isherwood said: "Come along to Pennington and be part of this great event across the North West - it will be a wonderful start to a real Christmas!"

Favourite Christmas carols will be sung, with massed choir accompanimentr, a top brass band, and the steel band from Trinity High School. Celebrity guests and the story of the first Christmas will feature.

Organisers hope anyone with half a voice - or even none at all - will join these traditional celebrations.