SINGERS with North Yorkshire choirs made up of families of servicemen, have been involved in the making of a new album for Christmas.

Home for Christmas is a collection of festive songs sung by the Military Wives Choirs.

The album, which will be released on November 25, is their biggest release yet, featuring over 1,000 wives from 65 choirs across the UK and overseas, including North Yorkshire.

Singers from Leeming and Dishforth were among those taking part and will join a UK tour of cathedrals in November to accompany the album’s release.

Following the success of the Christmas number one single Wherever You Are in 2012 – the fastest selling charity single in nearly 20 years - more and more Military Wives Choirs have been set up across the country, bringing the military families closer together.

Tiffany Cook, a member of Dishforth Military Wives choir, said the groups provide invaluable support for its members as well as singing.

“Anyone in the navy or army moves around a lot, but when they move we go with them. The men go straight into work and the women have to start again, maybe start a new job, make new friends - it’s very daunting to keep moving and start your life again.

“But knowing there’s going to be a group of women who will welcome you and will be singing the songs your choir was singing is great and you may have even met some of the members before through singing.”

The Dishforth and Leeming choirs rehearsed together before recording together at the York Early Music Centre.

The album features carols which have been updated with lyrics reflecting what Christmas means to women in the military community.

Sue Daniels, chair of the Military Wives Choirs Foundation, said: “The festive season can be a difficult time, particularly for those within the military community.

“By creating ‘Home for Christmas’, Military Wives are supporting each other through music – and extending this unity to families throughout the UK, and across the world.”

Tiffany, whose husband is in the Royal Navy, said she joined her local choir about 18 months ago.

“It was the best thing I ever did,” she said.

“The support was amazing; you make so many friends who are in a similar situation to you and understand the impact of military life.”

The choirs will be performing at Durham Cathedral on November 22, before heading to Bradford and Norwich Cathedrals on a seven-cathedral tour.

The concerts begin at 7.30pm and will be a mixture of carols and other Christmas songs.