FEWER than 200 tickets remain available for York's Community Carol Concert on Sunday, which will raise money for York Food Bank.

The Press nominated the food bank to benefit this year after the annual event raised thousands of pounds in recent years for the City of York Afghanistan Commemorative Appeal, which has now passed its target.

The concert will also boost the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York's Christmas Cheer Fund, which enables hundreds of York pensioners to enjoy an early Christmas dinner with the Lord Mayor at the Assembly Rooms.

The concert will feature the most popular carols and festive music, with a line-up including the joint choirs of Haxby Road Primary Academy and St Lawrence’s C of E Primary School, Collavoce Choir and Tadcaster Grammar School Concert Band.

There will also be brass ensemble Fanfare, vocal group Harmonix and singer Steve Cassidy, while host, the Reverend Andrew Foster, will entertain the audience with jokes and magic tricks. Meanwhile musical director John Warburton will encourage people to join in the community singing.

York’s first Community Carol Concert was held in the Tempest Anderson Hall in 1958, when 500 people attended.

Last year's sold-out concert raised a total of £6,000, with money also going to York Hospital Radio as it celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Organiser Graham Bradbury said he was hoping there would again be no empty seats in the house at Sunday's event.

The concert starts at 2.30pm. Tickets costing £7.50 for adults, £6 for senior citizens and under 14s and £24 for a family ticket are on sale at the Barbican Box Office from Monday to Friday, 10am – 2pm, or from 5pm on concert days, and on the door if any remain available.

For more information go to http://www.yorkcommunitycarols.co.uk/