AS it is getting near to Christmas, I wonder if you could help me to locate the words and music for the "Westhoughton Carol".

For many years, one of my old friends, who originated from Westhoughton, used to tell me about the Westhoughton Carol, which I always thought was another of his tall stories similar to his cricketing tale about the Westhoughton late cut. However, just recently, another friend has confirmed that a Westhoughton Carol does exist, but he cannot recall the tune or the words.

Do any of your readers have information regarding this carol? Is it a carol with its own words and music, or is it based upon an old hymn tune to which the words of a traditional carol are sung, similar to the Yorkshire version of "While Shepherds Watched", sung to the tune of "On Ilkley Moor"?

Pat Edgar

Stroud Close

Alkrington, Middleton