FAME and fortune could come to Malvern musicians Duke and Sherrie Ashton and David Lowe this Christmas - with a little help from the Tweenies.

A ditty penned by the trio is due to be released by the BBC as a bid for the children's characters to become Christmas chart-toppers.

It's Christmas Time, a release date for which has not yet been fixed, was originally written in an unsuccessful bid to supply the theme for another television show. A BBC producer liked the chorus so much he contacted the trio, and the rest is soon to be pop history.

Duke and Sherrie Ashton, together with Worcester drummer Max Patrick, form local pop rockers Candy Channel. The band, which has been going for around 18 months, is currently playing gigs in Worcester, Colchester and Birmingham. Its next appearance will be at Worcester's Marr's Bar on Friday, November 16.

David Lowe has already tasted chart success with Touch and Go, reaching the number three spot with Would You.

He has also written theme tunes for the BBC national and regional news programmes, including the Nine O'Clock News and Midlands Today.

Mr Ashton says he and Sherrie will harbour no resentment if the song turns out to be the most commercially successful thing they ever write. "It's exciting," he said. "Although until I get a release date I won't be fully convinced that it has actually happened."

The instruments heard on the track are played by the Candy Channel couple, as the Tweenies' voices will be layered over the top.

Mr Ashton says they will not be required to don the famous lurid felt costumes, although more BBC collaborations are in the pipeline.

"I can't tell you what is going to happen at the moment though," he said.

"Once you get to this kind of level, people start getting very secretive!"