A BRITISH Army band joined a North Yorkshire school choir at a special Christmas concert of remembrance.

Students from Risedale Sports and Community College, Hipswell, Catterick, performed with the Band of the Royal Armoured Corps to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

And alongside modern and traditional carols, the band and choir gave a moving rendition of the German hymn Stille Nacht - Silent Night - in memory of the 1914 Christmas Day truce between German and English soldiers.

Head of creative faculty at Risedale Sports and Community College Sarah Cox said: “Marking 100 years since the outbreak of World War One seemed a very appropriate tribute for a garrison school.

“It is even more fitting that this year, for the first time, we have been joined by the Band of the Royal Armoured Corps.”

Students Joseph Andrews, Hannah Brunsdon, Adam Sims and Caitlin Smith each gave a short reading on the story of the Christmas Day ceasefire.

And service children’s advocate Ewan Thomson, who hosted the event, dressed as a Great War soldier in a uniform donated by the Green Howards Regimental Museum.

Local band Fourum Folk, of Richmond, joined in the musical celebration performing their self-penned song Christmas Bells, which has been recorded and released on iTunes and Amazon - profits will be donated to military charity Help for Heroes to support the work of the Phoenix House recovery centre at Catterick.