Electric Umbrella have been spreading some Christmas cheer with the release of their festive single The Best Christmas (In Lockdown).

The Watford-based charity, which uses music to enrich the lives of people with learning disabilities, have put together a catchy tune for what they describe as the Great Christmas Online Singalong.

It brings some much needed joy for what has been a difficult year for so many.

Featuring stars like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Tony Hadley, and Dan Gillespie from The Feeling, this single is a must for those who want to bring a bit of joy to their household this Christmas.

Members of Electric Umbrella have met online weekly for a singalong, which is broadcast on Facebook, bringing much needed joy and opportunity to people from their Hertfordshire base, across the UK and as far afield as the US, Australia and Uganda.

The track, available on major online music platforms for 99p, was completed in four weeks, written and produced by former Electric Umbrella co-founder Tom Billington, Jo Webb and Electric Umbrella. The video was edited by Holly Petrie.

Artistic director Mr Billington said: "The Christmas single happened completely by accident. We were close to finishing the album when lockdown two was announced and someone said the words 'I don't want to spend Christmas in lockdown'... and before we knew it, we were knee deep into writing a Christmas single.

"Via Zoom we gathered people’s thoughts, ideas, fears and hopes of what Christmas would look like this year and did our best to capture this weird moment in time.

"We had no idea what a lockdown Christmas would look like, but we did know it would be better spent together - even if it is virtually.

"When we asked our guests and celebs to add their vocals to the single, they jumped at the chance to get involved.

"Technically it was challenging recording the vocals via phones, ipads, tablets, laptop mics and all direct through zoom. I literally had to grab what I could, when I could. Some were recorded whilst people were in the shops, in the car, in the kitchen and in the bathroom."

The Best Christmas (in Lockdown) can be purchased on on iTunes and Amazon.

Electric Umbrella will also release the album Sunflower Avenue in February.