COME all ye faithful and raise the roof at the Evening Star Carol Service.This year's festive singsong is fast approaching and all the money raised will go towards our Raise the Roof Appeal.

COME all ye faithful and raise the roof at the Evening Star Carol Service.

This year's festive singsong is fast approaching and all the money raised will go towards our Raise the Roof Appeal.

The Appeal was launched in April to try and raise the final £100,000 needed to put the roof on the cancer and information centre at Ipswich Hospital.

The centre will provide books and leaflets giving accessible information about the disease. And information about prevention will also be available along with private rooms for families to discuss the illness with consultants.

Members of the public have donated thousands of pounds to the cause and fundraisers have come up with many original and often bizarre ways to raise the cash.

Currently the tally stands at more than £70,000 and it is hoped that the six-figure sum will be reached by Christmas.

With last year's carol service raising more than £500 for our SARS Appeal, the festive service may take the balance to that crucial £100,000 mark.

Fundraising manager of Cancer Campaign in Suffolk, Gina Cooper will be giving a brief talk at the event.

She said: "Our attitude to cancer is a positive one, Christmas is a time for celebration and I think that links in nicely with our message that cancer should not be viewed negatively.

"This is a local event, in a local church and the Evening Star is a local newspaper – this really is a local appeal, the centre will really benefit the people of Suffolk."

Tickets are already on sale, priced at £1 and will be available on a first come first served basis – they are likely to sell out.

Ben Collins, Sales Manager at the Evening Star said: "The Evening Star Carol Service is an established part of the Christmas Calendar in Ipswich. It always attracts a great turnout and we look forward to welcoming many great friends again."

The Yuletide service will take place on Tuesday, December 16 at St Margaret's Church, Ipswich. It will begin at 7pm and last for about one hour.

Reverend David Cutts will be leading the service which will include short readings from Mark Murphy of Radio Suffolk, Disability Care Enterprise Project Director Carolyne Morey and the Mayor of Ipswich, Penny Breakwell.

Rev Cutts said: "The Evening Star Carol service is a very important part of the church Christmas programme and we are hoping to have a full church again this year."

Anyone wishing to buy tickets can purchase them from the front reception at the Evening Star offices in Lower Brook Street or by post with cheques made payable to Archant Ltd sent to Christine Upson, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope when applying for tickets.