REGULARS at Chedgrave's White Horse pub may be surprised to find an extra large measure of “spirit” at the bar when they drop in for a pre-Christmas pint.

REGULARS at Chedgrave's White Horse pub may be surprised to find an extra large measure of “spirit” at the bar when they drop in for a pre-Christmas pint.

Vicars from the village's All Saints' Church will conduct a carol service there for villagers who like the idea of a cold December evening with a song sheet in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.

The Rev Richard Seel, who will lead the service on Sunday, December 21, said: “Last year some people from church went and sang in the pub, which went down quite well. This year we wondered if we might take it a step further and do a carol service there. People are pretty excited about it.”

He added: “When people get together, that's the Church, so a church in a pub is fine. We are in the 21st century.”

Mr Seel, who was BBC film editor for 20 years, is also hoping to show his own home-made movie about the true meaning of Christmas on the pub's big screens, which are more used to drawing in football fans.

The novel event, which starts at 7.30pm, will not displease traditionalists who may have feared that the Christmas carol service held at the church was to be dropped, as singers will have a chance to warm up their vocal chords at the yearly event as usual at 5pm on the same day.

The Rev Nigel Evans, who leads the Chet Valley Benefice group of churches, said: “Instead of expecting everyone to come to the church, why doesn't the church come out into the community? From what I hear it's going to very popular. I suspect there will be a full pub.”

The organising group, which includes landlord Simon Peck and parishioner Alison Ball, who helped come up with the idea, is busy printing out lyrics and refining the plans for the service, which will include Bible readings, prayer and mainly traditional carols.

Mr Peck said that a donation of a piano by a family from the village meant that singers would be accompanied, and urged any musicians to join in the festive event.

“It brings together two sides of the community who don't normally go hand in hand,” he said.