A MUSICIAN has brought out a catchy Christmas song to raise funds to help injured servicemen and women.

Guitarist Ian Aird, from Topcliffe, near Thirsk, teamed up with his old college friend Gary Wilkinson, who plays the keyboard, to write A Heroes Christmas.

The pair met while studying at Twickenham Polytechnic in south-west London more than 30 years ago and hope to raise £100,000 for the military charity, Help for Heroes.

Mr Aird said: “For about ten years Gary and I played together in a band called Raw Sienna which had some serious interest from EMI and since then I’ve been playing in tribute bands.

“We’ve always kept in touch but recently we thought it would be good to write something original for Christmas. We knew that we needed to reach some people and touch some nerves, and there is no better theme than people coming home from war.

“The song takes us through a serviceman’s journey, thoughts and dreams when returning from a tour of duty at Christmas time to a hero’s welcome back home.

“The song builds from a simple catchy verse melody to full-on driving singalong choruses, including anthem overtones created by the addition of a full children’s choir.”

The song – jointly written by Mr Aird, 56, and Mr Wilkinson, 57, who lives in London– is performed by singer Andy Earnshaw, from Prestatyn in Denbighshire, and is being considered by the BBC for radio. Mr Wilkinson’s son Steven is the co-producer and the children’s choir is from Liverpool.

“We wanted to do something where children sang, similar to what Wizzard did in the 1970s,” said Mr Aird, who now plays in Rock Of Ages tribute band. “We were really pleased with the result. We think one day it could be a huge Christmas song.”

Mr Wilkinson, a retired broadcast technical director, added: “By highlighting their experiences and expectations of a serviceman returning home from a tour of duty at Christmas time, we’re giving rise to a feel good, upbeat theme.”

Both musicians have family who served in the armed forces. Mr Aird’s late father Malcolm was active in the Korean War, while Mr Wilkinson’s late father John served during the Second World War.