OLHDAM Parish Church is to host the Christmas Day service live on BBC television.

The family service featuring popular carols, including O Come All Ye Faithful and traditional local favourite While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night, will be broadcast from 10am to 11am on BBC1.

The congregation will be accompanied by award-winning brass band The Oldham Band (Lees).

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd David Walker, will lead the service, along with the Revd Derek Palmer, Canon Jean Hurlston, and the Revd Charlie Annis.

There is a special appearance by this year’s Youth Bishop – the church follows the medieval tradition of appointing a young person to take on some of the Bishop’s Christmas duties. The choir and congregation will come from throughout the town, representing the many different traditions of the area.

Anyone who would like like to join the congregation for this special broadcast, is asked get in touch. Tickets, to help the church plan for the numbers attending, are available free of charge. Call 0161 624 4866 for further details.