PRECIOUS funds will be raised for two Basildon children’s charities at a Christmas carol concert.

All money collected from the event at St Martins Church, in Basildon Town Square, will be donated to Basildon Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit and the adventure playground for children with special needs, at the Fryth, Whitmore Way, Basildon.

The Southend Band and the De La Salle School Choir, from Basildon, will be providing musical support.

Local firms Palmers Solicitors and accountants Richard Keen LLP, who are organising the concert, hope to top the £2,000 raised by last year’s event.

Emily Smith, marketing manager for Palmer’s Solicitors, which is based in Basildon town centre, said: “This will be the second Christmas concert we’ve helped organise.

“Last year we had about 150 people, which was absolutely brilliant, but we are hoping to have the same number or maybe even more this time.

“There will be traditional carols such as Silent Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem and popular Christmas songs like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.”

The concert will take place tomorrow night, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, with Christmas songs, followed by hot mince pies and mulled wine.

Mrs Smith said: “Staff from Palmers and Richard Keen will be going round with collection buckets at the end of the concert.

“That way people will be very welcome to make a contribution if they want to.

“The neonatal intensive care unit and the adventure playground for children with special needs are such good causes and we want to do all we can to support them.”