A DORSET pensioner is hoping to bag the coveted Christmas number one slot with his band’s charity single to raise funds for cancer research.

Gordon Kerr, 65, from Winterborne Kingston, was a member of a late ‘60s Scottish band that has reunited 45 years later to record the festive song.

Don’t Cry for Christmas by El C (pronounced Elsie) is inspired by personal experiences of the three band members, whose families have been touched by cancer.

Gordon, an author, who has lived in Dorset for five years, lost his father to the disease, his bandmate, Iain Macdonald, lost his mother and third band member, Ian McConnell, tragically lost two wives to the disease, most recently his wife Katherine last January.

Before her death, she encouraged Ian to reconnect with his former bandmates and after meeting up again in Ireland where Ian now lives, they began writing songs again.

Gordon told the Echo: “It has been very full on these past few weeks - we’ve just heard that we are number three on Google Play in Ireland which is a great start.”

Moya Brennan of the internationally renowned Irish folk-rock band, Clannad, has said of the band and the single: ‘It’s terrific the lads have got back together – the song is fantastic with a real rocky sound that you just have to sing along to. Christmas is a time for giving and I would encourage everyone to give this song a listen. There isn’t a family who hasn’t been touched by the scourge of cancer and I hope as many people as possible will support the lads.’

Proceeds from the sale of Don’t Cry for Christmas will go to Cancer Research UK and the Irish Cancer Society. The record is available from iTunes, Google Play or visit elcband.co.uk.