THE COUNTRY’S most popular church choir is hoping to cut an album of Christmas carols to follow up its chart-busting CD of hymns.

In March, Wallingford Parish Church Choir was declared Britain’s favourite parish choir.

The group beat hundreds of entries across the UK, and the prize was to record The Hymns Album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which was released in April.

Now the choir is hoping record company Decca will exercise an option in the contract to make a follow-up album.

Sue Ledger, 52, director of music, enjoyed the choir so much she gave up her career as a GP to lead the singers.

She said: “We signed a contract to make three albums and it is up to Decca if they want to say yes to another two. We are under contract until the end of August and Decca will give us their decision before the end of August on whether they want us to make any more albums.

“We would love to make another one and I think carols would be the perfect option — my own particular favourite is Hark the Herald Angels Sing, with that beautiful descant.

“The Hymns Album is still selling well in Wallingford and selling well online around the world.”

Within weeks of its release, The Hymns Album entered the Classical Artists Albums Chart at number two and is now at number 23. The album also reached number 39 in the pop charts.

The group visited the Royal Albert Hall in London to perform for Classic FM, and recorded one of the 15 album tracks at Abbey Road Studios, made famous by The Beatles.

The choir has 33 adults and 19 juniors, with ages ranging from six to over 70.

An agreed amount of royalties from album sales is going to the parochial church council, benefiting St Mary le More and St Leonard’s churches.

The church choir entered the competition after former Spice Girls manager Paul Conroy, who lives in the town, suggested it had a good chance of winning.