Children wowed Christmas shoppers as they sang their hearts out at a shopping centre carol concert.

Students from 10 primary schools across Waltham Forest, aged eight to 11, sang at the Mall in Walthamstow between 10am and 3pm yesterday.

They sang a mixture of carols and contemporary Christmas tunes, such as Silent Night and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, to entertain passing shoppers at the event organised by Waltham Forest Music Service.

The service’s marketing information and resource manager Juliet Owen said: “The children did marvellously – there was a lot of applause and singing along from people shopping at The Mall.

“The festive tunes really helped to get people in the Christmas mood.

“We do this event every year and this year we collected funds for the mayor of Waltham Forest councillor Sally Littlejohn’s charities: X Seven, Diverse Voices and Waltham Forest Arts Education Network.

“The children received an extremely warm reception earning a lot of smiles from the young and old – from toddlers to older ladies that were keen to join in.”

Participating schools included Greenleaf Primary School, Willow Brook Primary School, Emmanuel Community School, Henry Maynard Primary School, Davies Lane Primary School, Sewlyn Primary School, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Mission Grove Primary School, Chapel End Junior Academy and Edinburgh Primary School.

Waltham Forest Music Service was established in 2018 to help provide children of all ages the opportunity to learn to sing and make music with others.

It has been performing the carol concert at The Mall for the past five years.