HUNDREDS of people who attended a special carol service to mark the historic First World War Christmas truce helped to raise nearly £1,000 for three charities.

The ‘Silent Night’ event at Cappielow last month saw a re-enactment of the day British and German soldiers climbed out of the trenches to play an impromptu football match.

Around 700 people attended the service, which raised £951.

The money has been split between the Salvation Army, Inverclyde Foodbank and the SSAFA – the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmens Families Association.

One of the organisers of the event was John Burleigh, of Barnard’s Court Mission in East Hamilton Street.

He said: “We are glad to have been able to help three very worthy charities as part of this special event and we would like to thank all those who contributed to this very significant sum of money being raised.” Lynn Farmer, from the Salvation Army, added: “We are so pleased not only to have had our Greenock and Port Glasgow bands play at the event but also to receive this generous donation which will go towards our community work here in Inverclyde, including our ‘drop-in’ centre and parent and toddler work.”