Record ticket sales for York Minster's Christmas carol service

The annual Christmas Carol Concerts are a calendar highlight at York Minster(Photo: York Minster)

Over 35 per cent of York Minster's Christmas Carol Concert tickets sold in the first 24 hours, a far higher volume than in previous years, cathedral officials say.

The annual concerts are among the most popular events to take place in the York Minster calendar and fall this year on 5 and 6 December.

Tickets for the highly-sought after Front Nave seats already sold out for the 6 December concert within an hour of being released, with only a small handful of tickets in the area still available for the 5 December date.

"The Christmas Carol Concerts are our most popular concerts of the year and are at the beginning of a busy season of services, concerts and festive activities at York Minster," comments events manager, Stephanie O'Gorman.

"It's only the second year that York Minster has hosted two evenings for the carol concerts, with last year's two events both achieving capacity audiences.

"Visitors know they will enjoy a superb evening of music with some fantastic guest readers and it is a wonderful way to start the festive season."

York Minster will also be putting on a performance of another Christmas favourite, Handel's Messiah, on 14 December.

The performance features York Minster Choir and world-renowned guest soloists Iestyn Davies, Andrew Kennedy and Sarah Fox.

Tickets to all the concerts can be booked online at www.yorkminster.org, in person from the admissions desks within York Minster, or by calling the box office on 01904 557208. Tickets prices for all concerts range from £12-£25 each.