YOUNGSTERS from a Calne school will be taking part in a concert on Tuesday to raise money for Julia's House children's hospice.

Members of St Margaret's Preparatory School's Chamber Choir will be performing at St John's Church, Devizes on Tuesday. The fundraising Carols By Candlelight concert will also feature live camels that are back by popular demand.

Lady Chichester’s camels, Temujin and Therese, are expected to be the star attraction at St John’s Church at 7pm.

A spokesman for Julia's House said: "The camels - will be joined by families and care staff reading poetry and prose and there will be musical performances by adult and children’s choirs, plus traditional carols. Guests are invited to stay and share mulled wine and mince pies at the end of the concert.

"It is not usual for the odd surprise guest to crop up, too. AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has attended the past two Dorset events, but even he was trumped last year by the appearance of a pair of camels at the Devizes concert.

"Onlookers there were delighted, if a little startled , when the camels suddenly paraded up the aisle halfway through one of the carols and stayed in the church for the remainder of the service.

"They will be back this year by popular demand and, once again, there will be a camel ‘meet and greet’ afterwards.

"The concerts are raising money to provide care for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and support for their families in the charity’s hospices in Corfe Mullen and Devizes and in homes across Dorset and Wiltshire. Julia’s House is almost entirely community funded."

The St Margaret's Chamber Choir won the Wiltshire Choir of the year title at the Devizes Eisteddfod and will also be singing with the Swindon Coral Society at Christ Church in Swindon on December 8.

To find out more about the Julia's House concert go to juliashouse.org/carols18.