The director of Kandu Arts in Chippenham is hoping to beat Lily Allen to the top spot in the charts this Christmas.

The organisation’s young people have recorded a Christmas single, to be released on iTunes and Spotify on Monday.

It features a choir of eight students from Sheldon and Hardenhuish schools in Chippenham and John Bentley School in Calne, as well as a German nomad playing Galician bagpipes and Mr Deedigan, who wrote the song, on acoustic guitar and vocals.

The song is called Make your Way (to the ones you love) and it was recorded at Kandu Arts’ studio on The Bridge.

The group will receive 50p from each single downloaded and the money will go to supporting its community music workshops.

The young people who have been involved in the single attend an after-school club on Monday. They are all in full-time education, but the organisation also works with those who are not. Some are referred to them for therapeutic creativity, to explore emotions through music and drama.

Mr Deedigan said: “Christmas and birthdays in care are really difficult. It’s one of the hardest times of the year.”

He is appealing to the people of Wiltshire to get behind the not-for-profit organisation and stand up to “commercial X-Factor exploitation exercised with the support of a multinational TV company”.

He said: “We want to get it to number one and beat Lily Allen. Instead of being at the mercy of Simon Cowell, let’s do it for Wiltshire! It will mean a lot to a lot of people.”

The stars of the single will be giving their first live performance of the song in the Emery Gate shopping centre on December 21 from noon. They will also play a gig that night in the Citadel Hall in Bath Road from 7pm to 11pm.

For information call Kandu Arts on (01249) 444009.