Public invited to civic carol service at Great Yarmouth Minster

Carols in the Minster, organised by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, is a free sing-along service which aims to spread some festive cheer and raise money for the Minister and the mayor's charities.

The service, which will also include prayers and readings, will be led by by the Rev Simon Ward, of Great Yarmouth Minster, along with the Mayor's Chaplain, the Rev Albert Cadmore. The service itself will be followed by refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies.

The service and refreshments are free-of-charge, but donations are welcome and will be split between the Minster and the mayor's charities, which include the Great Yarmouth Stroke Association Support Group and the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Young Carers.

As part of the event, the Winterton Marine Cadets will parade from the Market Cross to the Minster with the civic party. The event is sponsored by Go Trade, a cross-Channel project to revitalise traditional markets, which is funded by the EU's Interreg France (Channel) England Programme.

Cllr Mary Coleman, the mayor, said: "The civic carol service started in 2009 and has always proved popular, with about 500 people attending each year. The borough's Christmas festivities have got off to a great start with the Christmas Fayre and Markets - and I hope that hundreds of people will again come along to the Minster, join in with the service and help to support some worthy causes."