A SOLD-OUT crowd at the Barbican sang its heart out for York’s annual community carol concert.

The 1,400 audience and the York Civic Party were joined in spirit by hospital patients through York Hospital Radio’s live broadcast of Carols at York Barbican.

On stage were more children and young people than ever before. They made up the Starlings choir from Hempland Primary Academy, All Saints RC School Combined Choirs, York Light Youth Choir and the Shepherd Group Youth Band.

Organising secretary Graham Bradbury said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic, it must have been one of the best. I am sure everyone has gone away feeling very happy and in the Christmas spirit."

The concert raised thousands of pounds for the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society and local charites The Island and The Music Hub.

Musical director Mike Pratt was in charge of carols and Christmas music old and new while Adam Tomlinson of BBC Radio York and retired York Hospital chaplain the Rev Andrew Foster shared hosting duties.

As well as entertaining the crowd, the youth band also used the occasion to meet the Facebook Jingle Bells challenge for brass bands by performing the Christmas classic at a concert and posting a video of their performance on the social media website.