A charity Christmas single created by Norwich's answer to Band Aid has so far raised nearly £1,500 for good causes.

Norwich Community Band Project released a cover of Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday at the beginning of December, and the project has this week also released a music video for the song to help boost the festive fundraising drive.

The single - which took a year to create and features more than 100 local musicians - is free to download and people are encouraged to donate funds to a choice of five worthy causes.

They are: Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, British Heart Foundation and the Alzheimer's Society.

Justin Brand, who came up with the idea for the single which was recorded in a studio in the garage of his Hellesdon home, said he was delighted that £1,465 had already been raised by the single, and that the project hoped to raise even more funds before Christmas Day.

'Thank you to everyone who has donated funds, been involved in the single, and shown their support

We have been blown away by people's generosity,' he said.

'I am chuffed to bits with what we have achieved so far. It's the first year we have created a charity single and it's been brilliant, it really has.

'This year's song has been on Radio Norfolk, and Radio Norwich are going to play it on Christmas morning.

'We are definitely going to do another song next year.'

Mr Brand, 34 and who runs Satellites Studios, said the plan for next year was to record a version of Shakin' Stevens' Merry Christmas Everyone, and that they hoped to get even more musicians involved in the second single.

'There are 102 musicians on this year's single, so next year we are going to go for 200,' he said.

• The download of Norwich Community Band Project's version of I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday is available at www.ncbp.co.uk

People can also make donations to the five charities the single is raising funds for at www.ncbp.co.uk

The music video for the single can be seen at www.facebook.com/norwichcommunitybandproject

• A Christmas charity fitness session, in aid of the causes supported by the single, is being run by personal trainer Paul Fawcett at 7pm on Monday at Style and Fitness Gym, in Ber Street, Norwich. It costs £5 to take part and people are asked to wear Christmas-themed attire.

• Are you involved in a new creative project in the Norwich area? Email Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk