HOPES of a Christmas number one are fading for a police inspector who recorded a festive song.

Contacts in the music business have helped Eric Robinson produce a festive CD, which has attracted the interest of a record company.

Although the firm said it was too late to release it, Insp Robinson, of Cleveland Police, hoped there was still time for a local label to take the song on board.

Merry Merry Christmas is an up-tempo, feelgood party tune. He wrote the words and music, and was so pleased with the result that he wrote a new set of words with a crime prevention message.

Crime Free Happy Christmas now forms the B-side to his single, and gets the seasonal message across that people should not leave their homes in darkness or their doors and windows unlocked.

One of the lines from the song reflects how heartless some thieves can be: "They'll steal a reindeer if you let them, not to mention Rudolph's nose."

Insp Robinson said: "The response from colleagues has been fantastic. Everyone has been singing it around the office because it has such a catchy chorus.

"They think the country needs a good new Christmas song and that mine should be released to challenge Cliff and the Cheeky Girls."

"The trouble is the major records labels say there is not enough time now for them to release it this Christmas, which is a pity because the feeling is people will want to buy this record.

"It would be fantastic if a local record label would release it."

Last year, Insp Robinson recorded a CD to a traditional Christmas tune warning shoppers of the perils of leaving property in their cars.

That was such a success he appeared live on national television and received requests to buy the disc.