People with dementia raised the roof at an Alzheimer’s Society carol concert in Colney Heath on Friday.

The festive gathering in St Mark’s Church brought together 160 members from the charity’s Singing for the Brain groups in St Albans, Wheathampstead, Watford, Bushey, Welwyn Garden City, Potter’s Bar and Hemel Hempstead.

The tuneful congregation were accompanied by members of the BBC Concert Orchestra who led them through traditional Christmas songs including O Come All Ye Faithful, White Christmas and Jingle Bells.

This is the first time Alzheimer’s Society has hosted a Singing for the Brain carol concert on this scale and was organised by the Singing for the Brain Leader Jill Dean and made possible with the help of Alzheimer’s Society staff and volunteers.

Alice Davies, Alzheimer’s Society Service Manager for Central and North Hertfordshire, said: "It was absolutely fantastic to see so many people with dementia and carers coming together and celebrating Christmas in style. Everyone really got into the singing and the atmosphere was incredible. Having members of the BBC Concert Orchestra there to provide the backing music was an extra treat.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped organise it and hopefully this is the first of many more Singing for the Brain spectaculars to come."