Tonight more than 200 carols singers gathered to remember the true spirit of Christmas at the annual Archant Suffolk Concert of Carols.

This year, members of the congregation were invited to wear their festive jumpers to the service, held at St Mary le Tower Church, in Ipswich.

Wecloming guests, Terry Hunt, Editor in Chief of the Ipswich Star and East Anglian Daily Times, said: “You will have noticed that some of us are wearing our very tasteful seasonal sweaters. The reason we are wearing them is to raise awareness of a really good cause.

“Money raised from this evening will be donated to the Eight Days a Week Appeal. To purchase a mobile family carers centre for Suffolk Family Carers.”

The fundraising inititaive is being spearheaded by BBC Radio Suffolk and is supported by the EADT and donations were collected during the service for the cause.

Canon Charles Jenkin led the service. After an opening carol of Good King Wenceslas and a song from the choir, Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive of Suffolk County Council, gave a reading from Luke, an account of the moment Mary was told she would bear a baby.

Phoenix Jazz performed during the evening and as members of the congregation left they were each handed a mince pie, courtesy of Waitrsoe Ipswich.

• This Friday, BBC Suffolk and the EADT are calling on the community to wear their Christmas jumpers to work and school, and make a donation to help Suffolk Family Carers reach their £500,000 target.

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