The man behind a charity single raising money for a Folkestone charity says it would send an important message if the song beat X-Factor to become Christmas number one.

Peter Hooton wrote All Together Now, which was originally a hit for his band The Farm in 1990 and has been re-recorded by an all-star cast under the name The Peace Collective.

Featured on the recording are Madness singer Suggs, former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Proclaimers, Leo Sayer, Jona Lewie, Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Mick Jones of The Clash and former star of The Cruise and Loose Women presenter Jane McDonald.

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Released on Monday, December 15, the single is raising money for the Red Cross and the Folkestone-based Shorncliffe Trust, which is hoping to build a military education and heritage centre in the town.

All Together Now tells the story of the famous Christmas Day truce in 1914 when British and German soldiers sang carols, exchanged gifts and played football in No Man’s Land.

Also among those added to the Peace Collective line-up are Julian Lennon, son of Beatle John, who said: “It is my great pleasure to be part of a wonderful charitable cause at Christmas.

“All Together Now celebrates a moment of peace, amid the atrocity of war.”

In an interview with OfficialCharts.com this week, Mr Hooton said: “To challenge for the official Christmas number one would be fantastic.

“We are definitely the underdogs as we have no marketing budget as such and are relying upon goodwill and favours from some brilliant people in the music industry and football.

“I think it would be a symbolic number one promoting peace and commemorating the extraordinary events of 1914 when there was a brief period of humanity during the horrors of warfare.”

He added: “Obviously X Factor are the favourites they have guaranteed publicity every weekend but over 13 million people have already watched the Sainsbury’s advert about the Christmas Truce.

“All Together Now might capture the public’s imagination as it’s a wonderful story of peace and goodwill.”

He added: “The Shorncliffe Trust had close links to World War One so we thought it was essential to raise awareness/funds for their work as well and keep that link to history.”

The Christmas number one will be revealed on Sunday, December 21.

All Together Now is available for pre-order now by texting the words ‘Get Peace’ to 84222, which costs £1.

It is also available to pre-order on iTunes.

You can keep following the progress and support the cause using #alltogethernow on social media or follow The Peace Collective on Facebook.

Soldiers, footballers and world leaders will come together in Belgium to remember the 1914 Christmas truce between British and German soldiers on Thursday.

The commemoration is being led by UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, in partnership with the Premier League and German Bundesliga.

Stay logged in to KentOnline as we cover the Truce being honoured and follow in the footsteps of Kent soldiers from The Buffs, the East Kent Regiment, to see how Kentish men were involved in this amazing story.