Fire service Festival of Carols 2006

Reverend Christopher Cooke from St Peter and St Paul's Church, Wem; Firefighter Ian Cliff as Father Christmas and Brigade Chaplain Peter Barnes get ready for the Festival of Carols 2006

Children's voices accompanied by a male voice choir - and firefighters - will ring out from a Shropshire church in the fire service's annual Christmas Festival of Carols.

Pupils from St Peter's School, Wem, will join GKN Sankey Male Voice Choir with members of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service at St Peter and St Paul's Church, Wem at 7pm on Wednesday, December 13. There will also be music by the Thomas Adams School Orchestra.

Also present will be the Lord Lieutenant, mayors and chief executives of Shropshire district councils and fire service colleagues from neighbouring brigades.

"This is the first time we have held our annual carols service at Wem and it promises to be a most entertaining evening. It is always a relaxed occasion with rousing singing. Following the service everyone is invited to join us at Wem Social Club for mince pies and hot drinks to join in the festive cheer," said Chief Fire Officer Alan Taylor.

The event will raise funds for Hope House Children's Hospice, the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund and St Peter and St Paul's Restoration Fund.

BBC Radio Shropshire plan to broadcast the service on Sunday, December 17 at 7.05am and again on Christmas Eve at 5pm.

St Peter and St Paul's Restoration Fund

1st December, 2006