Put down that tinsel and spread a bit of Yuletide joy - that was the call from Ipswich Choral Society today which is urging the people of Suffolk to sing their hearts out at its annual festive musical extravaganza.

IPSWICH: Singing Christmas carols has never been so charitable!

Put down that tinsel and spread a bit of Yuletide joy - that was the call from Ipswich Choral Society today which is urging the people of Suffolk to sing their hearts out at its annual festive musical extravaganza.

The Ipswich Sings Christmas event promises an uplifting mix of traditional carols and music to get the county into the festive spirit - and it's all in aid of the Somebody's Daughter appeal.

Somebody's Daughter, a registered charity, was launched by The Evening Star and Ipswich Borough Council in late 2006 to support vulnerable young people in Ipswich.

The choral society's Martin Nightingale promised an uplifting evening.

“In the past few years the event has been tremendously successful - it's such a lovely way to get into the Christmas spirit and we've got Rachel Sloane from the BBC as this year's compere, so it's all very exciting,” he said.

“The whole event is so Christmassy with carols galore.

“But tickets are selling out so fast so people should get them while they can.”

The selection of festive performers will include the Ipswich Choral Society, the Suffolk Phoenix Brass, St Johns School choir, Ipswich High School for Girls choir, the Ipswich Deaf Association signing choir and folk duo Pluck'n'squeeze.

Mr Nightingale, who has organised the event, added: “It's a fantastic event for such a happy time of the year and it's really great to raise the money for a really positive charity.”

With more than 70 members and a long history, Ipswich Choral Society is one of the country's oldest choirs.

The society has spent the year touring and performing in Italy.

The concert is set to begin at 7.30pm on December 19 at the Corn Exchange.

Tickets, which are priced at �8 for adults, �6 for concessions and �2 for children, are available from the Corn Exchange Box Office on 01473 443100.

For more information visit www.ipswichchoral.com

Are you getting into the festive spirit? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk.

Somebody's Daughter:

The Somebody's Daughter Memorial Fund was launched in conjunction with Ipswich Borough Council in the wake of the killings of five women in Suffolk.

The bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Annette Nicholls and Paula Clennell were found in remote rural locations in December 2006.

As a legacy to the five women, and in a bid to prevent others from walking in their same desperate footsteps, The Somebody's Daughter appeal was given a mandate of helping vulnerable young people in Ipswich.

Among the trustees of the Somebody's Daughter appeal, a registered charity, are Ipswich MP Chris Mole, borough council leader Liz Harsant and Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover.

Donations to the memorial fund can be made online at www.eveningstar.co.uk, in person at Ipswich Borough Council's customer service centre in the Town Hall, by calling 01473 433777, or by sending a cheque, made payable to Somebody's Daughter Memorial Fund, to PO Box 772, Ipswich Borough Council, Grafton House, 15-17 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2DE.