THE countdown to Christmas will begin in earnest next week with a carol concert aiming to raise £50,000 for the county's most poorly children.

Once again, Dorchester Abbey will be filled with celebrities, singers from Winchester Cathedral Choir, and members of the public to make sure patients at Oxford Children's Hospital get the best possible care.

The concert will this year raise money for new accommodation for parents and families of children being treated at the hospital.

The BBC'S world affairs editor John Simpson, recently a patient at the John Radcliffe following an allergic reaction at an Oxford restaurant, will be among the special guest readers at the concert on Thursday, December 1.

He said: "Making sure children have the best possible experience in hospital and can be surrounded by their family is clearly a very worthwhile cause.

"I have heard a lot about this concert and know that there have been some special readers in the past, including the great Sir Terry Wogan, so I am thrilled to be able to support Oxford Children's Hospital."

The concert, which last took place in 2014 when Prince Edward attended, was originally held as a one-off in 2006 during the fundraising campaign to build the Children's Hospital.

It has been such a success that it has been held every two years since - raising £250,000 in total - and this year is part of the 10th anniversary campaign to raise £2m.

The concert's founder Caroline Compston, from Steeple Aston, said: "We aim to raise over £50,000 through this one concert, which will go towards new accommodation for parents and families of children being treated at the hospital.

"For families that have a sick child the additional stress of finding a place to sleep can be overwhelming.

"We hope to give them a home from home to help them cope with the anxiety of having a very sick child."

She added: "You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting for a Christmas concert than Dorchester Abbey.

"This, along with the delightful sound of the Winchester Cathedral Choir and the very special readings, will create an absolutely marvellous event."

Actresses Patricia Hodge, who recently starred in BBC comedy Miranda, and Emily Bevan, who has appeared in the ITV drama Doc Martin, will also take to the stage as readers.

Ms Bevan said: "It's lovely to be able to do something to help youngsters in hospital and make their experience that little bit easier for them and their families."

The concert will take place on Thursday, December 1 at 7pm at Dorchester Abbey followed by wine and snacks.

Tickets are available at £25 or £70 and can be bought by calling 01865 743444 or emailing charity@ouh.nhs.uk