A sell-out crowd of 1,100 enjoyed a series of performances by Laura Wright at A Festival of Carols in Ely Cathedral on Friday.

Ely Standard: Laura Wright with accompanist Edmund Aldhouse, assistant organist, doing sound checks and rehearsing for this evening's concertLaura Wright with accompanist Edmund Aldhouse, assistant organist, doing sound checks and rehearsing for this evening's concert (Image: Archant)

Money raised from the concert will go towards East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices and Ely Cathedral.

The Suffolk soprano - best known as the official anthem singer for the England rugby team - performed Christmas favourites including ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘O Holy Night’.

She then joined the cathedral choristers and gentlemen of Ely Cathedral Choir and The Ely Imps for a rendition of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’.

There were also readings and poems by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s Jeremy Sallis and county High Sheriff Sir David Arculus as well as Claire Wright, a bereaved parent who told how East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices had supported her family.

Ely Standard: Laura Wrigth performed at Ely CathedralLaura Wrigth performed at Ely Cathedral (Image: Archant)

It was the sixth staging of the bi-annual concert, which is organised by the Cambridgeshire Freemasons.

Bill Dastur, one of the organisers, said: “We were delighted to see the cathedral sold out and to experience a great concert with a stunning performance from Laura Wright, all in aid of EACH and the cathedral who should share around £25,000.”