THE annual Carols at Cappielow event was held at Morton Football Club’s ground in Greenock.

The best-loved carols were sung with gusto with the help of the Greenock and Port Glasgow Salvation Army bands.

There were also readings from Inverclyde Provost Martin Brennan, Bishop John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley, Douglas Rae, chairman of Morton, the Rev Francis Murphy from the Mount Kirk in Greenock and from the football club’s chaplains the Rev Dave Hall and Ian Arthur, aided by two of the club’s first team players Michael Doyle and Gary Oliver.

On a crisp but milder night than of late, the crowd also enjoyed hearing from singer and songwriter Steph Macleod, once a homeless alcoholic, who sang and told of his finding Jesus Christ, while a gospel message was brought by Mark Fleming, Scottish Director of Sports Chaplaincy UK and Chaplain to the Scottish Football Association.

This was the fourth Christmas event organised by the club in association with Inverclyde Christian Initiative whose spokesman Chris Jewell said: “Singing carols at our main football stadium has proved to be a very special event. The evening was greatly enjoyed by all I have spoken to.

“There was a very clear message of Christmas and what Jesus Christ can mean to us all in each of our lives, whatever age and stage we are at. We are very grateful to the club, to those who took part, to all who attended and to the background technical team for the evening.”