A community drive-in carol service is being planned for Dawlish, so that people can enjoy singing and celebrating from the safety of their own cars.

Redeeming Our Community (ROC) is working with the county, district and town councils to put on the event on Sunday, December 20.

It will take place at the district council's large car park at Dawlish Warren, and people will be encouraged to bring festive food and drink, and decorate their cars with Christmas lights.

ROC has obtained an FM radio licence for the event that will enable people to tune in on their car radios, so that they can hear the service and the singing without opening their windows.

'Informal and community-spirited'

The service will be led by the Revd Dallas Ayling, but ROC's local co-ordinator Mark Jones said: "It's not going to be very 'churchy'.

"There'll be a Christmas message of course, but we'll do it in a community-acceptable way.

"We are hoping for a live band, a Christmas lockdown poem, video content, and a short accessible Christmas message, hopefully all delivered in an informal and community-spirited manner, but with a hint of Christmas awe and wonder."

The music will be a mix of traditional carols and more modern ones, along with other popular Christmas songs, including those that appeal particularly to children.

There will be a big screen displaying the words, so there'll be no need for song-sheets.

Plenty of family entertainment at the service

Mark said: "We are hoping to run a competition of the best-dressed car, as long as it is driveable and doesn't upset our good friends in the police - so people might have to get their lights up on arrival.

"We also hope to have a 'spot the Christmas nativity character on the screen' activity, which will run throughout the service for a small prize.

"We'll do all we can to make this a truly fun and enjoyable all-age gathering."