SCHOOLCHILDREN from Calne helped spread the festive cheer as they serenaded shoppers with traditional carols in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

A dozen children and staff members from Heddington Primary and John Bentley School gathered outside Sainsbury's in The Pippin on Saturday morning to sing carols and raise money in memory of Martyn Dunn, a former assistant head teacher at John Bentley School, who died in July.

Peter Grant, assistant head teacher at John Bentley School, said: "We have done carol singing for the last couple of years and raised money for other charities but this year raised £219.93 in two hours for the British Heart Foundation which is great. It was very busy and we got people in the Christmas spirit.

"We also had out first public performance from the Calne Community Orchestra, which is something we set up this year for members of the public who had learn instruments at school or recently, to perform with our students."

The schools have worked together for the last couple of years to deliver Christmas jingles outside Calne shops and Heddington Primary's headteacher Ashley Martin said it is way of sharing joy with the community.

He said: "Some of our children went along to sing. We have done it for three years and it is just a way of giving something back to the community and the children enjoy it as do the shoppers. It is also fun to do it on the same weekend as the Santa Scamper."