A COUNCIL officer is hoping his homage to “classic Christmas rock” might become a festive hit.

Tony Ecclestone and his four-piece band Shooter have taken a step back in time to the 1970s to record Xmas Time’s A Time To Rock.

The release comes five years after communications officer Mr Eccelstone was reunited with his former bandmates three decades after they last performed together.

Mr Ecclestone, 57, said: “The aim of the Christmas single was to create something that was a bit of a homage to the classic Christmas rock hits of the 70s by Slade and Wizzard – and have some fun.

“Of course we’d also like to keep the X Factor off the number one spot.”

Since re-forming, a second guitarist/producer Ian Turner has joined Shooter, and they have performed at gigs and festivals in London and Oxfordshire, including Adderbury, Bloxham and Bodicote festivals.

Three of the original four-piece band were reunited in 2010 after New York record company Sing Sing tracked down the former bandmates, to seek permission to re-release the only record the group – then called Straightshooter – had recorded in 1979.

The single of the same name only sold 900 copies and never charted. The band broke up a few months later.

However, the renewed interest in the band led to bass player Mr Ecclestone, from Barford St Michael, near Banbury, getting back in touch with Dom and Mike O’Riley.

Mr Ecclestone said: “It went from strength to strength after that and we’ve since had three singles out as well as a new album.”

Shooter have had three download hit singles – all of which went to number one in the Amazon rock download charts. In September the group released an album called Recycled Teenagers.