A COUNCIL worker by day and singing sensation by night -- raise your glasses for Carl Preston!

Robbie Williams sound-a-like Carl is aiming to be the man of the moment when he performs for the first time at this year's Mayoral Charity Ball on Friday, March 14.

The annual fund-raiser, sponsored by The Citizen, will take place at the Guild Hall, Preston, and is expected to pull in loads of cash for worthy causes.

And it will be the place where Preston City Council revenue's worker Carl, 30, makes his stage debut.

But before he performs, the city's very own pipers will play at their first official engagement, by welcoming the mayor and mayoress, councillor Jonathan Saksena and Jean Al-Serraj.

Councillor Saksena said: "I'm really looking forward to the ball, there'll be music, a charity auction and dancing so everyone should have a great night.

"And it's all for a good cause, all the money raised will go to Vine House, the Fox Street homeless shelter and Comic Relief."

Gill Ellis, editor of The Preston and Leyland Citizen, said: "It is important for an organisation like ours to be able to put something back into the community.

"A high profile event like this is the perfect opportunity."

Among the 250 ticket holders will be various council representatives, civic dignitaries and business people. Carl, from Penwortham, said: "I've always wanted to sing in front of a large audience at the Guild Hall, so when I heard about the Mayoral Charity Ball, I jumped at the chance."

The pop idol, who rocked as Robbie for television's Stars in Their Eyes, will be belting out a range of chart music as well as well know hits from the 50s and 60s.

Preston City Pipers changed their name from the Leyland Pipers when Preston was given city status.