Carol singers on Wiltshire Canal Boat Holidays braved the rain to enjoy mice pies and hot punch on the bank of Dundas Wharf in Limpley Stoke on Saturday (December 5th).

Some 200 people attended the annual Canal Christmas Carol Service, accompanied by the band of the Trowbridge Corps of the Salvation Army, the Wiltshire Times reported.

Canals and Inland Waterways chaplain the reverend Peter Atwill, who led the service for the 12th successive year, told reporters: 'The singing was very good this year and it was good to see so many people and so many boats moored up along the canal, all decorated with Christmas lights.

' Barbara McLellan, a trip boat from the Kennet and Avon Trust, was among the Barges in attendance and brought a number of guests from the Bradford on Avon area.

Earlier this week, The Times listed a Canal Boat Holiday in Cheshire as one of its recommended ways of seeing in the new year.