YORK'S community carol concert made a highly successful return to the city's Barbican centre - and today its organiser said he hoped the event could go back there next Christmas.

More than 1,300 people packed into the centre - which has been closed since last December - for the annual fundraising concert yesterday.

The popular event - now in its 48th year - raised about £2,000 for the Evening Press Guardian Angels appeal and the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York's Christmas cheer fund.

Organiser Graham Bradbury said: "We are delighted to be back in the Barbican. It has been our home since 1991, apart from last year when we were without this magnificent venue, and sadly York has lost out.

"We have been advised that it is going to be renovated for next year and I will be writing a letter hoping that we can book an evening next December.

"We would like to have this as our home. It is the best venue available from every point of view."

Barbican Centre operators Absolute Leisure offered to reopen the centre so the carol concert, November's Festival of Remembrance and the UK Snooker Tournament could go ahead.

Last year, the annual concert was held at the University of York's Central Hall.

This year's concert featured students from Tadcaster Grammar School's concert band, who entertained the crowd with lively renditions of Good King Wenceslas and Winter Wonderland.

Pupils from Queen Margaret's School Junior Choir and Stamford Bridge Primary School Choir performed traditional carols, alongside the Stamford Bridge Singers.

York-based steel band Steel Expression added a modern twist to some festive classics and their version of Sleigh Ride received a long ovation from the audience.

Guest soloist Steve Cassidy, who was head teacher at St George's Roman Catholic Primary School for 17 years, performed his own Christmas compositions. Female group Abbey Belles Chorus performed carols in a barbershop-style.

The Rev Andrew Foster, a full-time chaplain at York Hospital, was master of ceremonies and performed magic tricks for the audience, and John Warburton was the musical director.

Updated: 09:39 Monday, November 28, 2005