The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby will join thousands of carol singers in Canterbury city centre on Christmas Eve.

The popular annual event is the main fundraiser for the Lord Mayor of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund appeal which gives festival parcels to the needy.

It starts at 6.15pm and the Salvation Army Band will accompany the singing which will be conducted by Chris Gay from an open top bus and supported by the choir of St Stephen's church.

The charity needs to raise around £18,000 every year to distribute around 500 parcels to the elderly and hard-up families in the Canterbury area.

Its chairman Sheila Cragg said: "We are keeping our fingers crossed we don't get a downpour which could put off some people and affect the collection.

"But it has become something of a Canterbury tradition and is always a magnificent sight and sound in the city."