Hundreds of children will be hoping to show they have the X-mas factor as they battle it out for the Leicester Mercury's Sing For Your School competition.

Youngsters from schools and colleges have been tuning up their vocal chords as they practise their Christmas carols.

Head teacher at South Wigston High School, Gary Toward, thinks the competition will be great for his talented pupils.

He said: "We've got an embarrassment of riches here so I'm sure our carols will be good.

"We've made sure that everyone who wanted a place will get a chance."

The competition offers a £5,000 top prize for the winning primary and secondary schools. The runners-up will net £1,000.

Sing for Your School is looking for budding pop idols to get together and send in videos of their recordings. To enter, all you need to do is get a class or choir to sing its favourite Christmas carol in front of a video camera.

Convert your video into a suitable digital format then log on to our website below and follow the simple instructions.

The closing date is Saturday, November 1.

The more entries you submit, the greater chance of winning. The two winning choirs will feature in BBC Radio Leicester's Sing Christmas live broadcast on Thursday, December 18.

Schools already registered include: Meadow Community Primary, Wigston; Crown Hills Community College, Leicester; Croxton Kerrial C of E Primary, near Melton; Northfield House Primary, Leicester; South Wigston High; Long Clawson C of E Primary, near Melton; Hemington Primary; Forest Lodge Primary, in New Parks, Leicester; The Martin High, Anstey; De Lisle Catholic Science College, Loughborough; Ivanhoe Community College, Ashby.

E-mail us at the address below with your school contact details and we will be in touch.

Full entry details available at:

www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk

singforyourschool@ leicester mercury.co.uk