CHILDREN at an east Dorset school are hitting the high notes after recording their own version of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Throughout the autumn, children at St James’ First School in Gaunts Common, Wimborne, have been busy rehearsing and auditioning for parts in the song, made famous 30 years ago.

And joined by Queen Elizabeth (QE) School’s music teacher, Stephen Glover, along with some of his talented students, the youngsters have now recorded their final version of the song.

St James’ head Jacqui Booth said the group from QE have been the “driving force” behind the project, which has “excited and enthused” the young learners.

“The whole process has been an amazing experience for the children, and we are overjoyed with our finished recording,” she said.

In keeping with the tradition of the song, St James’ version has been recorded for charity, and the profit will be shared between Julia’s House – QE’s charity of choice – and St James’ chosen charity, Cancer Research UK.

St James’ school councillors, who are responsible for the promotion of the MP3, are appealing to the wider public to help them reach their goal of selling 150 downloads. Mrs Booth said: “If you are looking for a novel gift idea and would like to support a charity along the way, perhaps you would consider visiting iTunes and downloading St James’ special song, donating to two important charities and making a lot of children very happy along the way.”

The song was initially recorded in 1984 as an anti-poverty effort for famine-stricken Ethiopia, and has been re-released this year in order to raise funds for the fight against the Ebola crisis.

It features a number of leading pop acts, including One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Chris Martin and U2’s Bono, and topped the charts in November.