With Band Aid 30 smashing record sales this year it seems Christmas charity singles with celebs huddled round microphones, eyes closed and gripping on to their giant earphones for dear life are back with a vengeance.

That was certainly the case at The Carlton Studios in Glasgow yesterday morning only with much more love and feeling, I might add.

The Les Hoey MBE DreamMaker Foundation is releasing a Christmas single to raise much needed funds for their unbelievable charity.

The foundation began more than 20 years ago when Les's daughter Shelley, who had leukemia, wanted to meet Boyzone.

Les managed to arrange it for her and then thought "I could do this for other sick kids."

Having now successfully gained a registered charity status that allows this wonderful organisation to help hundreds of children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, they arrange outings with trips to the theatre, theme parks, safari parks, sporting events and have even arranged visits to Disney on Ice.

Each year they also organise a huge Christmas party for more than 200 children and, at concerts, arrange for a meet-and-greet with the kids' pop star and sporting idols.

This benefits the sick children by taking their minds off treatment and makes great memories for the families, creating smiles on their faces instead of pain.

These events not only help the sick children but also help the siblings and takes the pressure off the parents as not everyone has the resources to take their children on these types of outings.

A young girl called Katie Papworth, who had been battling an aggressive form of cancer for eight years, met Pop Star Ed Sheeran on October 30 this year before his concert in Glasgow and took the opportunity to ask for his hand in marriage. She presented him with a ring carved with an infinity symbol, which Ed happily accepted along with her proposal.

Sadly poor Katie passed away a week later but she got to meet her idol thanks to the DreamMaker Foundation.

Les along with his team have made all of this possible and not to mention that they' have also raised more than £2million for various charities along they way.

I had the pleasure a few years ago of turning up at Les's door with a camera crew from STV's The Hour to present him with Michelle's One in a Million award, in true Cilla Black style - although I managed to hold off from calling him Chuck and belting out Surprise, Surprise in his living room, thankfully.

Singer/songwriter Billy Warren has written a lovely festive track entitled This Christmas complete with beautiful harmonies and, of course, gorgeous sleigh bells, thanks to the talents of musician Jim Scanlan. Bafta winning actress and singer Kathleen McDermott managed to pull together a fantastic group of singers, including X Factor's Nicky McDonald, River City star Tom Urie, Soul Nations Chris Judge, to name but a few.

The real stars of the day though, were the children from Yorkhill Hospital, who came along to lend their vocal talents and I can tell you now that it was a truly awe inspiring sight as every one of these little darlings is so brave, fighting life threatening illness.

I was completely honoured and humbled to be a part of it all yesterday and it's also just so refreshing to hear a lovely new Christmas song.

It seems over the past few years that Christmas singles have gone completely out of the window thanks to The X Factor and that good old fashioned Crimbo tunes sung by the likes of Noddy and the boys from Slade seem firmly a thing of the past.

Bands and artists absolutely should be releasing new Christmas tracks every year and for the sake of a proper Christmas No 1 Simon Cowell should revert back to a January release of the Winner's Song, like we did on Pop Idol, to make sure that can happen.

I don't want to come over all bah humbug but wouldn't it be lovely to have an actual Christmas Song top the charts this year especially one raising money to help such a worthy cause?

This Christmas should be available for download around December 15 and I can honestly say it's a fantastic song and well worth the purchase. I will keep you all posted on the exact date and details. In the meantime if you want to find out more about the Les Hoey MBE DreamMaker Foundation, then you can check them out on Facebook or Twitter @DreammakerLes.

She presented him with a ring, which Ed happily accepted along with her proposal

For the sake of proper Christmas No 1, Simon should revert to January release for Winner's Song

MICHELLE McMANUS