Take a big, sing-along chorus, add a sprinkling of sleigh-bells, a touch of choral singing and a message of love and what have you got?

The perfect Christmas song, of course.

It certainly is for Kenton Hall, from theWest End of Leicester.

The single he has written with former Squeeze songwriter Chris Difford is being touted as a contender for this year's number one spot.

Let's Not Fight This Christmas was created as an experiment to find the perfect formula for a festive song.

The songwriters said they aimed to see if applying the lessons of number ones of Christmas past would lead to a hit in Christmas present.

Kenton, a member of the administrative staff at the University of Leicester's School of Education, is hoping Let's Not Fight will revive the old-fashioned Christmas classic.

The 32-year-old said: "We were thinking of Slade, Mud and Wizzard. We had to think of what elements made up a good Christmas song.

"You definitely need the big chorus – something people can get up and sing with a glass of eggnog in their hands – and it needs to be something for people of all ages, whether you're eight or 80.

"There's a certain sound as well – jingles, the choir, sleigh-bells.

"We're hoping to resurrect the true Christmas single, about Christmas, for Christmas."

The other must-have ingredient is a poignant message, Kenton said.

"Chris is known for his stories of everyday life. So we wanted a song that meant something as well.

"It's about parents who are separated but reunited at Christmas time.

"We have odds of 25-1 against being Christmas number one, apparently. We're going to make it difficult for X-Factor. It's about time we had original songs at number one at Christmas."

All proceeds from the song, which was released as a download-only single on Monday, will go to the BBC's Children In Need appeal.

Kenton, who did not celebrate Christmas growing up, due to his parents' religious beliefs, said his six-year-old twins, Hero and Scarlett, were excited about the single.

He said: "They love it. Because I never had a Christmas when I was young, I can still see it through their eyes as something very special."

Kenton performed Let's Not Fight with his band ist at The Donkey, in Welford Road, Leicester, on Saturday.

Rivals for the coveted Christmas number one slot also include Geraldine McQueen – best known as Peter Kay – Take That, Bob the Builder and former X-Factor champion Leona Lewis.

However, Kenton has attracted support on BBC's The One Show's Backstage Blog.

Manclass82 said: "Well done guys, the vid is hilarious and the song certainly fits modern times."

OriginalDaveHedgehog said: "Spot on. It would be great to have Christmas number one about Christmas, like the days of Slade, Mud and Wham."

Let's Not Fight is available at music downloading websites.