A KIDDERMINSTER firefighter and X Factor contestant received the call to join a fire service choir's charity single campaign to reach Christmas number one.

On-call fireman Richard Ryan, 25, sang with over 40 firefighters across the country, where they recorded a rendition of classic Band Aid anthem 'Do They Know It's Christmas' to be released as a charity single. 

Collectively known as the Fire Tones, their single is set to raise money for the Firefighters Charity and the Band Aid Charity Trust.

Welshpool firefighter and organiser of the recording Chris Birdsell-Jones, says the efforts are already gathering momentum ahead of charity single's launch on December 1.

Richard was contacted by the organiser following his X Factor audition, where the singer rocked the audience with his version of 'I Believe In a Thing Called Love' by The Darkness.

After his performance, a cynical Simon Cowell gave Richard a no vote and asked him "what are you in real life, a mouse or a lion?”

Richard then revealed he was an on-call firefighter which stunned the judge, and inspired the Kidderminster singer to prove Simon wrong.

The charity single is expected to compete with the X Factor winner's single for the coveted Christmas number one spot in the UK charts.

The Fire Tones also recruited X Factor contestant Marc Higgins, from Southampton, former winner of The Voice Stevie McCrorie, and Nottinghamshire firefighter and star of BBC’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show Andy Quinn to lend their voices to the single.

Richard Ryan said: "It's quite a historic song and it's a great feeling to be following in the footsteps of iconic singers, and I have some solo parts.

"It was a lovely experience, and to meet people from different brigades who share a love of singing was brilliant.

"The recording was completed in a day the same as the original at BIMM Music College in Birmingham last Sunday (October 28).

"To be able to record with the help of professional vocal coach Louise Warren was really cool too.

"I absolutely love and the Fire Service and my job and to be able to do my singing alongside is perfect."