A signing choir helped to spread some festive cheer at The Mercury Mall.

Sanders Draper Signing Choir based at Sanders Draper School in Suttons Lane, Hornchurch joined forces with Katie Milton from the Queen’s Theatre to officially open the grotto at the shopping centre.

The choir signed along to Christmas classics including Let It Snow, Little Donkey and We Wish You A Merrry Christmas.

Mrs Ceiri Van Haeften, who is a Communicator in the Hearing Impaired Unit at Sanders Draper School, said “The Signing Choir performed magnificently and it is wonderful for members of the public to be able to witness a different method of communication in action. It certainly brings the community together.”

The choir has been going for nearly 13 years and is made up of both hearing impaired and hearing students.