YORK’S community carol concert has raised more than £4,000 for good causes after selling out, with demand for tickets outstripping the supply.

The concert, staged yesterday afternoon at a packed Barbican, left organiser Graham Bradbury delighted. “It was fantastic. Christmas started here,” he said.

“We sold all 1,400 tickets, but could have sold many more. We need somewhere bigger!” he joked.

“A few years ago when the Barbican was shut, and we had to stage the concert at the university’s Central Hall, our numbers went down to 800, but people have realised that the Barbican is open for business.”

He said the event will have raised £2,000 for the City of York Afghanistan Commemorative Appeal, which aims to create a stained glass window at All Saint’s Church in Pavement as a lasting tribute to the thousands of local men and women who have served in Afghanistan.

Another £2,000 will go to the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York’s Christmas Cheer Fund, and Mr Bradbury hoped there would also be a sizeable donation to York Hospital Radio as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The concert featured York soprano Rebecca Newman, singing O Holy Night and her new Christmas single, Holidays Are Coming – Wonderful Dream.

The Shepherd Group Concert Brass Band, the York community choir Millegro and the harp group Clouds also performed, and the choirs of Headlands Primary School and Yearsley Grove Primary School sang a new song written by York musician Steve Cassidy, entitled Ring Them Bells.

The concert was hosted by the Rev Andrew Foster, with John Warburton as musical director.

Mr Bradbury revealed that a special guest at the concert was 80-year-old Gwen Rennison, of Clementhorpe, who sang solo at the first ever community carol concert in 1958, when it was staged at the Tempest Anderson Hall and she was called Gwen Hall. She also sang at the following six or seven concerts.