A popular rock band from the 1980s helped create a Christmas single to raise funds for the King George and Queen’s Hospital Charity this year.

Christmas Time Again features Doctor and the Medics with their lead singer Clive Jackson seen performing with kids in the video, shot partly in Romford’s Mercury Mall.

Also appearing in the video are boxer Steve Ward, Becky O’Brien of Britain’s Got Talent fame, and filmmaker Paul J Lane.

The song was written and the video directed by Tony Fadil. Released earlier this month, it starts with a Dickensian scene in which a group of children are questioning Santa’s existence.

During the song, the kids find their faith in Father Christmas and festivities begin.

A spokesperson for Mercury Mall told the Recorder that their team agreed to collaborate with Mr Fadil after he came up with the idea for the song and pitched it to the Medics singer, who he had worked with before.

The aim behind the initiative, she added, is that people could download the song from any of the major platforms from as little as 99p or contribute to their Indiegogo campaign to help donate money to the hospital charity.

The Indiegogo campaign raised more than a thousand dollars and the link to the music video can be found here: Christmas Time Again on Vimeo

Mr Fadil said: “Giving kids a joyous Santa experience on the one day they should all be at home just sounded like a magical charity to me and I wanted to give something back.

“I think what the hospital charity does for these families is give some warmth at a time where people are really struggling.”

A fundraising officer at King George and Queens Hospital’s charity said the “real fun song” can make a difference to children’s lives at the hospital over Christmas.

Mercury Mall centre manager Spencer Hawken added: “Watch the video, stream or buy the song and the money raised will ensure big smiles on Christmas day”.