SCORES of Christmas carol fans from York and across North and East Yorkshire have contacted the Evening Press to help the paper identify the region's favourite festive song.

Dozens of votes have been registered by post, by email and through This is York, and today we can finally reveal your true festive favourite.

The classic carol Silent Night, written in 1816 by Austrian priest Joseph Mohr, has emerged as the clear winner with almost 20 per cent of the vote.

Silent Night will now be among the carols sung at Favourite Carols For All, a service for the whole community to be held at York Minster in December.

Su Sayer, chief executive of charity United Response, which is organising the event, said it was wonderful to see how passionate people were about Christmas carols.

She said: "Now everyone can look forward to a memorable chorus of voices in a packed York Minster next month."

The Evening Press poll revealed that O Little Town Of Bethlehem came in as second favourite, closely followed by Oh Come All Ye Faithful in third place.

Eighteen carols were nominated and the vast majority were traditional Christmas hymns with just a few scattered votes for modern carols.

More than 1,000 people have already applied for tickets for the event which will take place on December 17, at 2pm.

Readings at the service will be delivered by former newsreader Martyn Lewis and Countdown host Richard Whiteley.

The choir of All Saints' School, York, and the city's Hands And Voices sign language choir will also take part.

It is not too late to apply for tickets. If you would like to go to Favourite Carols For All, send an email to info@united-response.co.uk, including your name, address and a contact telephone number.

Or send the same information in a letter to Sarah Black at United Response, 113-123 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London, SW15 2TL.

Organisers have asked anyone holding tickets they will not be using to get in touch, too, as demand for places is very high.

Updated: 10:57 Tuesday, November 19, 2002