Salisbury Salvation Army Band will be bringing Christmas music to the city centre on each Saturday in December leading up to Christmas - a tradition first started with the Fry family at the end of the 19th century.

Starting this Saturday on Salisbury High Street, carols and Christmas music will add to the festive atmosphere of the season as the brass band plays through its repertoire of over 100 different musical arrangements of Christmas-themed songs.

The band receives many requests from listeners for favourite carols and at the end of the month-long musical marathon can compile its own unofficial "Top Ten" most requested tunes.   

Captain Martin Davison of Salisbury Salvation Army said: "Last Year Silent Night seemed to be our most requested carol, but Away in a Manger and Jingle Bells were very close behind in popularity."

During the Christmas period, the band will play at the Maltings Shopping Centre as well as in the Market Square. Other engagements include a carol service at the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection on December 13 and providing the music for the Bishopdown Green open-air Nativity play on December 16.

The Band will also feature in two Salvation Army Community Carol services held at their Salt Lane hall on Sunday, December 11 at 3pm and Sunday, December 18 at 10:30am.

Martin said: "We are so grateful to Salisbury City Council for giving us permission to play in the City Centre. Both shoppers and traders seem to like it; and thanks to the many people who encourage us with their kind remarks and gifts for our work here in Salisbury given while we are playing."