THEY may be hot stuff in the kitchen, but when the staff of a Forres restaurant decided to sing out for charity, sub-zero temperatures almost took their breath away.

The team from Chapter One ventured out onto the streets of the town last Saturday to sing not for their supper but for a good cause.

The music-makers, calling themselves the Urban Kitchen Utensils, gave their first public performance of their charity song, 'Fairytale of New York', which proved to be a smash hit.

Shoppers snapped up copies of a limited-edition CD release, which is raising cash to put a smile on the faces of youngsters in hospital.

So far, more than 250 has been raised for the children's ward at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin, which will be used to buy personal DVD players. The town's Asda store is also donating a selection of films for young patients.

The Saturday sing-song was very successful despite the chill, and was accompanied by mulled wine, soup and roasted chestnuts.

The CD project started off as something of a joke between the staff, who often burst into song as they work in the kitchen, revealed director Sandra Philip.

"They are always having a laugh, and someone joked that they would be cutting a single next. Even though we are so busy at this time of year, it was great to get involved," she said.

Head chef and partner John McCruden, who plays bass guitar on the track, thought it was a great idea, and signed up the staff for vocal coaching with music teacher Tish Tindall in preparation for the recording session. It also emerged that other members of the team had been hiding musical talents, with Carol Gray playing violin on the track, and Gavin Proctor the trombone.

It is not the first time Chapter One has whisked up a cash boost for a good cause. The restaurant has given its support to a food project in Africa, supported the Forres hydrotherapy pool and backed Forres Academy's links with a school in Malawi.