A GOVERNMENT Minister will play a part in a major carol service at York Minster next week - through a telephone link.
Paul Boateng, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will give a reading from Whitehall using a telephone conference facility.
The telephone conference, provided by the charity Community Network, will also be available to up 100 home-based carers across England so that they can listen in to the service.
The service, hosted by the national disability and mental health charity United Response, is proving a big success, with 1,400 seat tickets sold.
The congregation will sing favourite carols, led by the choir of All Saints' School. Among the carols will be Silent Night, after it came top in an Evening Press poll of readers' favourite festive songs.
Other songs will be performed by Hands and Voices, a choir who sing and sign in sign language, Musical Arc, musicians from York who have a disability and the Easingwold Old Boot Shop music group.
Lessons will be read by Countdown host Richard Whiteley and the Lord Mayor of York, with TV presenter Roger Boyle giving the Christmas address.
For a ticket in advance, call 0208 246 5205. But organisers say people can also take a chance by turning up on the day, when any unallocated seats will be available.
Updated: 16:28 Wednesday, December 11, 2002
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