Punk rock and Christmastime have an interesting relationship in being somewhat contradictory, despite a number of seasonal punk singles.

It began in 1977 with the release of (It’s Gonna Be A) Punk Rock Christmas by the Ravers, but with the most recent contribution being Oi! To The World, the title track from The Vandals’ Christmas album in 1996, a new edition had been somewhat overdue.

This week Electric Umbrella released Christmas as a Punk and solved the shortage.

Electric Umbrella is a unique collaboration of adults with learning disabilities and professional musicians and working together to write, experience and perform music at workshops, festivals, pubs, live radio and almost everything in between.

The release of a single, however, is a first for the charity, and they were fortunate enough to have it professionally produced and mastered at the world famous Abbey Road Studios.

The track features musicians and producers with a dazzling array of credits to their name including Melanie C, Rick Parfitt, Gary Barlow, Robert Plant and Hanz Zimmer.

Front man Lawrence Neal, 55, has been a member of Electric Umbrella for two years. He grew up in Watford and has had a learning disability since he was a baby.

He says: “I’m a huge fan of punk rock. My favourite bands are Sham 69, The Ramones and The White Stripes. Thanks to Electric Umbrella I got to go to Abbey Road studios and be in my own band.”

Christmas as a Punk was written by members of Electric Umbrella and professional musicians at their weekly music sessions. Members of Electric Umbrella have been involved in every aspect of the recording, ensuring that the process has been tailored to include all 60 members on the track, regardless of the things they need help with.

The song is about a punk rocker who feels uncomfortable with the social etiquette and niceties of Christmas. In many ways, it is a metaphor for people who feel out of place and are misunderstood and misrepresented by society.

Registered charity, Electric Umbrella aims to challenge the perception of people with learning disabilities by empowering and enriching lives through music.

Tom Billington professional musician, co-founder and Artistic Director of Electric Umbrella: “I’ve been working as a musician for over 20 years. This is all about pulling everyone together to do something wonderful.

“It’s a great song. Lawrence is a great singer. He and the rest of the people on this record perform with more life and more spirit than in any other band I’ve ever been in! Why shouldn’t we be doing it properly?”

Watford Football Club – who play in yellow, the same colour as Electric Umbrella – will be playing the single on the big screen at Vicarage Road in every game up to Christmas.

Christmas as a Punk will be available to download on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual online outlets. There will also be a limited run of CDs available via electricumbrella.co.uk.

In celebration of the release Electric Umbrella will embark on a short tour of pubs, Christmas Markets, town centres and private parties in and around Hertfordshire.