A FESTIVE fundraising single performed by members of the Barnsley Youth Choir is expected to fly off the shelves when it's released on Friday!

It's been produced by the same man who helped produce The Clash's first album and worked with The Beach Boys and Abba.

The choir, which formed in 2009, worked with legendary record producer Simon Humphrey at his Leeds-based studio to record the double A-sided CD that will raise money for Barnsley Hospice.

Simon is well-known in the music industry and has also worked with many other artists ranging from Culture Club to Marc Bolan.

The single, costing £2, will be on sale from the Chronicle reception on Church Street, Matalan at Cortonwood, hospice shops, Horizon Community College and via the choir's website.

It has been made by Barnsley firm Riviera Multimedia.

The choir, which has more than 180 members, is led by musical director Mat Wright, a teacher at Horizon Community College.

It's been split into two sections for the recording, with the younger members, aged seven to 11, singing Winter Wonderland and older members (12 to 19) performing O Holy Night.

Mat said the choir is 'buzzed and excited' about the single and has set its sights on going national.

"It's something Barnsley people can be proud to support and it's our young people doing something remarkable for themselves and the town," he said.

"We're hoping it will be something people want to buy, not just to raise money, but as a quality piece of work."

Mat said the idea of releasing a single came about after he was approached by Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis.

"Dan is really helping us and is speaking to people to promote the single and we're hoping to make as much money as possible and every penny of it will go to the hospice.

"We believe we have ended up with something of real quality that can be marketed nationwide.

"The songs are very different pieces but both are of quality. O Holy Night would stand up against any choral Christmas single released and Winter Wonderland does exactly what it says on the tin - it will make people smile and get into the festive spirit."

As well as Simon lending his expertise to the choir, lecturers from the University of Huddersfield and University Campus Barnsley, Graham Hughes and Al McNichol, were there with degree students to help with the recording.

Mat said: "It was great for the kids to work with the very best and Simon was blown over by the quality of the singing of these young people."