Shakin' Stevens rejoins charity over Christmas hit

Winton Salvation Army band performed the song for Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Stevens has been to surprise some of the people who helped to turn his classic festive hit into a charity song.

Merry Christmas Everyone, released in 1985, made Stevens the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s.

In 2015, the Welsh singer-songwriter released a new version of the song in collaboration with The Salvation Army, titled Echoes of Merry Christmas Everyone.

The star has been to Bournemouth to meet with the some of the people who took part in the video for that most recent rendition.

The reunion was part of a BBC Sounds documentary called Christmas Hits Unwrapped: Stories Behind the Songs.

Stevens said the Winton Salvation Army band, which performed the song, was "fantastic".

Major James Hill described the 76-year-old's surprise visit as "absolute stardom", adding: "I'm a bit star struck."

Stevens' grandma was a salvationist, which is what inspired him to raise money for the charity.

Stevens is a big supporter of the charity because his grandma was a salvationist

Tina Shave, community centre manager in Winton, said recording the new version of the song nine years ago had a big impact on the group.

She said: "Because we are a church and a community centre that works with people, we don't really talk an awful lot about what we're doing because we're so busy doing it.

"Something like that really raised our profile and we had lots more people coming forward, saying we'd like to donate to you, or we'd like to be part of your story, we'd like to volunteer with you and that impact is invaluable for us."

Major James Hill described the surprise visit as "absolute stardom"

Graeme Shaw performed in the Salvation Army's music man project, which provides music performance opportunities for people with learning difficulties.

He starred in the video for the re-recorded song and he said Stevens was "the best ever" and "really nice".

Mary Randall, 81, from Bournemouth, was also involved in the song.

She has been in Winton for 60 years and in 2007 she received an MBE for her services with the homeless.

"We can't really totally change their lives but I think we can show them that someone cares," she said.

In 2015, the Welsh singer-songwriter re-released the song and called it Echoes of Merry Christmas Everyone