Celebs lead Trafalgar Square carol singing

Celebrities descended on Trafalgar Square for a charity Christmas carol concert.

Strictly Come Dancing star Camilla Dallerup and Jasmine Harman from TV's A Place in the Sun led the way at the event, held for one of the world's largest children's charities, Plan UK.

The concert formed part of Plan UK's major Christmas campaign Girls Without Voices (www.girlswithoutvoices.org), which highlights the lack of education opportunities for young girls in the developing world.

Celebrities formed a choir of both men and women. However, it was only the men who were allowed to sing as the girls fell silent with gags across their mouths.

The sound of male voices ringing out across Trafalgar Square was designed to symbolise the loss of opportunities for girls in some of the world's poorest countries, where there are currently 43 million out of education.

Plan UK is calling for more people to Sponsor A Girl (www.sponsoragirl.org) to help put a stop to child discrimination.

Dallerup said: "Every young person deserves an education. It's shocking to learn that in this day and age girls or young women are denied the opportunity to go to school, just because of their gender.

"We need to make a stand for girls rights and help them break free from the cycle of poverty."

For more information visit www.sponsorsagirl.org and www.plan-uk.org.