CAROL singers are wanted to help entertain hospital patients in the run-up to Christmas.

Help The Aged wants to bring some Christmas cheer to elderly people at Darlington Memorial Hospital on December 21.

The charity is supplying each of the two elderly people's wards with a Marks and Spencers voucher for £100, which will be used to buy Christmas treats for the patients.

Peter Beaty, chairman of the Durham branch of Help The Aged, said: "It should bring a little bit of happiness to the people in hospital over Christmas."

On the same day, the charity has organised carol singing in the hospital, but more people are needed to take part.

Anyone who can make themselves available at 6pm on the day is asked to contact Mr Beaty on (01325) 313924.

Meanwhile, Help The Aged has supplied the illuminations for the hospital Christmas tree, sited in the grounds outside the outpatients department.

The lights for the tree, which was donated by Lord Barnard's Raby Estates, were officially switched on over the weekend.