Two Merlin Mk2 Observers from RNAS Culdrose are hoping to fly high in the music charts this Christmas.

Lt Cdr Dave Emery and Lt Cdr Phil Clark wrote this year's festive single 'Sailing Home For Christmas' whilst serving onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth with 820 NAS as part of Operation FORTIS last year. They both described the clear inspiration for the song: "It's a song about returning home to your families at Christmas time after a long time away."

The Helston-based pair decided to record the Christmas song with their band Little Red Ambulance after returning from the 7-month deployment to the Far East, they invited Culdrose Military Wives Choir to sing the song with them.

The band said: "The choir brought so much power and excitement to the song. Many of the wives' husbands were deployed as part of Operation FORTIS so they could relate to the lyrics."

Little Red Ambulance with the Culdrose Military Wives Choir (Image: Little Red Ambulance)

Culdrose Military Wives Choir recorded a three-part harmony accompaniment on the Christmas song, choir Lead Ciara Graham said: "We may be used to deployments in the Armed Forces community, but they are never easy for the serving person or their family members at home, especially when children are young.

"This song perfectly captures the emotions we feel when anticipating a homecoming at Christmas, it's magical, so we are thrilled to have added our voices to this compelling, catchy track."

'Sailing Home For Christmas' will actually be Little Red Ambulance's 10th Christmas song release, the band explained how they started over a decade ago, the band said: "We wrote our first Christmas song together in 2009, and we got together as a band once a year to write and record a Christmas song. It's been so much fun, and a great way to stay in touch as friends."

Previous year's Christmas songs include music videos that have been filmed at the famous Mousehole Christmas lights and at Perranporth beach. The Royal Navy & Royal Marine Charity (RNRMC) are supporting their bid to get to Christmas number one by helping them record a music video in Hamleys Toy Shop, London.

Lt Cdr Dave Emery said: "Both the RNRMC and Culdrose Military Wives Choir have been so supportive of us and our families while we were away, It is great to be able to give something back."

Lt Cdr Dave emery and Ltd Cdr Phil Clark ( Image: Little Red Ambulance)

The song is being released on the 2nd of December to raise money for the Culdrose Military Wives Choir and the RNRMC. You can follow their progress by following Little Red Ambulance on social media, the band has this final message: "It's all for a great cause so please give it a listen, Yule not regret it."

You can help get the song to reach as many people as possible by using the hashtag #SailingHomeForChristmas on social media.

You can find the Little Red Ambulance band on all the main social media: @LittleRedAmb (Facebook, Twitter) @little_red_ambulance_music (Instagram) @littleredambulance (TikTok) You can also find them on Facebook here: Little Red Ambulance | Facebook

You can find the Culdrose Military Choir on social media: @culdrosemwc (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) You can also find them on Facebook here: Culdrose Military Wives Choir | Facebook

The Royal Navy & Royal Marine Charity can also be found on social media: @RNRMC (Facebook, Twitter) @rnrmcharity (Instagram) Or follow the link here for their Facebook: Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity | Portsmouth | Facebook