CHOIR members are hoping to score a Christmas number one in the charts.

Colchester Military Wives Choir was invited to sing with 64 other military choirs up and down the country for the album Home for Christmas.

It is the first time the group has been included on an album with their counterparts.

As well as singing on the title song Home for Christmas, the choir also has its own song called Away in a Far Land, which is sung to the tune of Away in a Manger.

Sally Leung, musical director, said it was fantastic to be involved.

She said: “We are really excited to be a part of it. We only had two weeks to learn the songs but we did manage to squeeze in rehearsals. It was quite an exciting day recording.”

The Military Wives Choir Foundation charity was set up in September 2012 after the first choir went to number one with the single Wherever You Are the previous Christmas.

Colchester set up its own military choir in July 2012 on the back of the original idea, and has enjoyed success with concerts both in the UK and abroad.

The foundation’s patron is choir master Gareth Malone, who helped the original members to their first Christmas number one.

This year, Mr Malone has two shots at a number one album, one with the military wives choirs and another with his own album called A Great British Christmas.

Mrs Leung said: “We are in competition with Gareth and his choirs which is quite disappointing. You would think he was backing our choirs.

“Let’s go for number one. You have to be positive about it.”

Home for Christmas will be released on November 25.