The East Anglian Daily Times is calling on its readers to help The Darkness clinch the Christmas number one.

The Suffolk newspaper is backing local band The Darkness - who come from Lowestoft - as the Christmas chart battle hots up.

The glam rock band - brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins, Ed Graham and Frankie Poullain, released their single Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End), earlier this week.

Editor Terry Hunt told readers: "Suffolk deserves to have a number one hit and The Darkness represent our best-ever chance to do it.

"Let's all go out and buy the single, so for once we can have a proper band at number one for Christmas."

But it is battling against fellow contenders such as the Pop Idol contestants' cover version of Happy Xmas (War Is Over) and Avid Merrion's festive single Proper CrimBo, in the race for the top spot.

Now the EADT is asking its readers to help bring the title of Christmas number one home, by going out and buying a copy of The Darkness' single.

And midweek this week - the last before the Christmas chart is compiled - the Darkness were ahead of the rest, according to industry sources.

The band's official website says the record is not an anthem for "gluttony, consumerism or bloated, flatulent post-dinner snoozing".

It is apparently an acknowledgement of the season which affords us a greater tolerance and brings folk together.