A military wife from Helston has spoken of her joy that her serving partner should be home for Christmas, as her choir's single is tipped for the festive number one spot.

Harriet Gray is a member of Culdrose Military Wives Choir, one of 65 choirs to be recorded for a single that is fittingly called "Home for Christmas."

Featuring 1,006 voices the single, which was released last Friday for 99p from iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and record stores, is the title track from the latest Military Wives Choirs' album.

Anna Oliver, from the Culdrose choir, said: "We have released this single to raise money for the Military Wives Choirs charity, which supports the network of thousands of women at bases around the world. That's our aim, and if the public response is that it does well in the charts it is a wonderful bonus."

The single was written in collaboration with military spouses who had experienced separated Christmas and also the joy of a deployment returning during December.

One who knows this feeling only too well is Harriet, who is preparing to welcome her partner Meirion back towards the middle of December, just in time to spend Christmas at home. He has been deployed as the Flight Commander for Okinawa Flight with 849 Squadron.

Even more excitingly, it should be their last Christmas as just a couple, with Harriet expecting a baby on January 12.

Harriet said: "This Christmas is going to be extra special; after a three month deployment in the Gulf, he will be returning in mid December - he will be coming 'Home for Christmas'!

"I’m immensely proud of Meirion’s career and have so much respect for anyone serving in the forces, and their families.

"I know that at some point, I will face a Christmas without him as he’ll be deployed over the festive period, and I have everything crossed that he’ll be around next year, as it’ll be baby’s first Christmas."

She said she "loved every minute" of recording the single and credited the Cudrose choir as being her extended family.

"Joining the choir, I felt like I walked into a room full of 'ready made friends.' Singing is fantastic fun in itself and the friends I’ve made and the support that comes from being part of this extended family is invaluable.

"Had I not joined, as much as I love Cornwall, I know I would feel very isolated living here, especially in the winter with Meirion away," she added.