A well-known broadcaster and clergyman introduced a regional daily’s annual carol service, which raised £1,200 for charity.

Canon Roger Royle, who is best known for presenting Radio 2’s Sunday Half Hour from 1991-2007, welcomed people to the Eastern Daily Press’ Festival of Carols which was held in Norwich earlier this month.

The festival has been held by the Archant Norfolk title for the last 15 years and Canon Royle said he was pleased to see a regional newspaper organising such an event.

And it raised £1,200 for the EDP’s We Care Appeal, which supports the county’s unpaid carers and last Christmas hit its original target of £1m.

A band and two choirs performed after five weeks of intensive rehearsals, while readings were given by a number of local figures, including EDP editor Peter Waters.

He said: “The EDP Festival of Carols is such a joyous and uplifting occasion. The organizing committee and performers do such a brilliant job to ensure that it goes from strength from strength every year and it’s fair to say that for many this event marks the beginning of the festivities.”