YORK’S 55th Christmas Community Carol Concert will be staged at the Barbican on Sunday, December 16, providing a major boost to two good causes.

It may only be July, but tickets have already gone on sale for the event, which last year raised £2,000 each for the City of York Afghanistan Commemorative Appeal and Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York’s Christmas Cheer Fund, and another £500 for York Hospital Radio.

This year’s concert, which is being tied in with the York 800 celebrations, will feature one of York’s leading brass bands, the York Railway Institute Band, and the popular York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir.

Also taking part will be singers from SoundsFun, St Olave’s Church Choir and youngsters from St Barnabas Primary and Appleton Roebuck Primary School choirs.

Community singing at the concert will be led by musical director John Warburton, with the Rev Andrew Foster acting as master of ceremonies.

Tickets, priced £7 and £5 for children and senior citizens, with family tickets costing £20, are available by phoning 0844 854 2757, by logging on to yorkbarbican.co.uk, or by visiting the Barbican box office, which is open 10am to 2pm from Monday to Friday.