TELEVISION stars and a talented choir will take part in a fundraiser to help cancer patients have families.

Oxford Children’s Hospital is hosting its seventh Christmas concert this week, in aid of the Future Fertility Trust.

The service, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, collects tissue from children and young adults before cancer treatment, and can re-implant it later in life following cryopreservation to boost their chances of having children.

On Thursday the hospital will support the cause with an evening of song and readings at University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford.

Guest speakers include comedian and broadcaster Alexander Armstrong, who hosts BBC game show Pointless, award-winning actress Patricia Hodge, known for her role in the BBC comedy Miranda, Downton Abbey actress Zoe Boyle, and television chef Nisha Katona.

The choir of Winchester Cathedral will also perform, and there will be wine and canapés for the audience.

Caroline Compston, one of the event organisers, said: "We are delighted to be joined by such an illustrious group of guest readers and welcome the return of Winchester Cathedral choir.

“We are delighted to support this inspiring project to help young cancer patients.”

She revealed that previous Christmas concerts have raised a collective total of more than £350,000 for the children’s hospital, which she described as a ‘truly astonishing sum’.

Comedian Mr Armstrong, who lives in West Oxfordshire, said he values the ‘fantastic hospitals on our doorstep’.

He added: “I really appreciate how lucky we are.

“I am absolutely delighted to read at this Christmas concert and support such an important project.”

Chef Ms Katona, whose restaurant chain Mowgli has a branch at Oxford’s Westgate Centre, praised Future Fertility Trust for its ‘inspirational’ work.

She said: “It’s an essential part of the Mowgli culture to give back to local community.

“I was thrilled to be able to select Oxford Hospitals Charity as our house charity for our Oxford restaurant when it opened earlier this year.

“I am delighted to be a part of the concert and help this amazing cause.”

Lauren Shute, 22, will speak on the night about how she has been helped by the Future Fertility Trust.

She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2013, aged 17, and was one of the first patients to benefit from the innovations.

Miss Shute, from High Wycombe, said: "For young people facing cancer, a potential future side effect is the damage that the cancer treatment can inflict on your fertility.

"This programme gives you hope - hope that your cancer will not prevent you living a full life. Hope that your consultant believes you will one day be able to start a family. And most importantly, hope that you will survive.

"This really helped me feel safe that my cancer diagnosis at 17 would not define my future and that I would survive and go on to live a 'normal' adult life.

"It is wonderful that so many people will be supporting the Future Fertility Trust at this very special concert and giving many more children and young adults with cancer hope too."

Tickets start at £30 and can be bought via hospitalcharity.co.uk/Event/christmasconcert or by calling 01865 743444.