THE DARKNESS - DARKNESS PLAN CHRISTMAS SONG

Retro rockers THE DARKNESS are putting their MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE loss behind them by planning to top off a massively successful year (03) with a Christmas single.

The I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE stars have been the surprise hits of the year after building up a massive cult fanbase with their extravagant live shows - and now the band are in the final stages of writing a Yuletide track.

Singer JUSTIN HAWKINS says, "There's no shame in doing a Christmas single. It is a special period of time. I think it gets a bit desperate when you do Mother's Day songs, or Father's Day songs, but Christmas is different.

"The single looks to have a chorus that reads, 'Christmas time, don't let the bells end, just let them ring in peace.' That's moving for me."