THE story of the Christmas Day truce will be retold in York 100 years on, at a city school's annual carol service in York Minster.

The new Bishop of Selby, The Right Rev Dr John Thomson, will preach and city's civic party will be among hundreds of guests in the congregation, for the Archbishop Holgate's School service next Tuesday, December 16.

The service consists of carols, readings, dance, dramatic performances and sung pieces by the school's many choirs. There will also be a piece sung by a massed choir of pupils from seven primary schools connected to Archbishop Holgate’s and a dramatic piece called Once They Were Boys, written to mark the centenary of the 1914 Christmas Day truce.

The story is told from the viewpoint of two mothers, one English and one German, linking to Mary's love for Jesus. The drama ends with the singing of Silent Night in German, Stille Nacht, a recording of which has already been sent to a secondary school in Germany as part of a reciprocal project.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s, whose Christmas advert is on the theme of the Christmas Day truce, have also requested a recording.

The public are welcome to attend the service and to stay for mulled wine and mince pies afterwards in the North Transept. The Minster doors open at 7pm. People are asked to be seated by 7.20pm for a 7.30pm start.