CAROLS penned by Malvern residents will be performed at Christmas services in the town next month.

Rosemary Williams, who attends Malvern Baptist Church, and Katherine Panton-Kent, nine, from St Matthias Church, were chosen from 40 entrants as the winners of the Churches Together in Malvern carol-writing competition.

Entrants were asked to write words for a carol set to the tune of Welsh folk song Suo-Gan and these were then judged by the Rev. John Bell, a well-known hymn-writer and broadcaster from the Iona Community in Scotland.

Katherine's lyrics were based on the traditional Christmas story, while Mrs Williams chose to take a more modern perspective of the nativity, comparing the birth of Jesus with that of children born today in war-torn countries.

Mrs Williams said: "I was thrilled to win. We had a rehearsal of the song at the Baptist church on Sunday and it was really interesting to hear it sung by a full choir rather than just me humming it to myself."

The runners-up were Jenny Killam, from Great Malvern Priory, and Amy-Jane Terry, from St Gabriel's with St Mary's CE Primary School.

All the entries have been compiled into a booklet and will be performed at Christmas services around Malvern.

The two winners will receive a certificate signed by Rev Bell and one of the carols will be sung by the Malvern Festival Chorus at its Carols For All concert at Malvern Priory on December 27.