Britain’s most festive coach filled with 53 Carols and Noels singing festive tunes

THE nation’s most Christmassy coach has been revealed – filled with 53 people named Carol and Noel singing festive songs.

National Express welcomed the army of festive folk with the same name on a service from London Victoria Coach Station.

IDs were checked before boarding to make sure each Carol and Noel was legitimate, and the dress code was simply ‘festive fun’, with many opting for novelty Christmas jumpers.

There were some notable names among the passengers, including TOWIE’s Carol Wright – mum of Mark – and even Noel Fielding (or at least their lookalike).

They were encouraged to sing Christmas songs for the entire journey to get into the festive spirit.

It comes as the UK’s largest coach operator is offering anyone called Carol or Noel free travel on Christmas Day for one of any of the 355 journeys it’s running to 96 locations across the country.

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John Boughton, commercial director for National Express, said: “Carol and Noel are the most festive names, so we were delighted to welcome so many on board to kick off the holiday season.

“This year we are feeling more festive than ever before and we can’t wait to welcome Carols and Noels for their free journeys with us on Christmas Day. Singing Christmas songs is optional.

“With planned rail disruption over the festive period, we’re once again stepping up to help people get home this Christmas with thousands of coach services across our key intercity and airport routes.”

The coach company also polled 2,000 people who celebrate the festivities, which found Silent Night was the most popular carol with 35 per cent of the vote.

It was followed by O Come All Ye Faithful and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (both 18 per cent).

More than a third (36 per cent) admitted they don’t start feeling festive until they sing their first carol and 45 per cent are left with a nostalgic feeling when they hear them.

Around four in 10 (42 per cent) reckon the main thing that makes a great Christmas carol is that it should be easy to sing along to.

While 40 per cent look for a ‘traditional feel’ and 37 per cent reckon it should have memorable lyrics, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

Other top tunes to hear at this time of year included O Holy Night (15 per cent) and Away in a Manger (12 per cent).

But Ding Dong Merrily on High just missed out on the top 10, placing 11th on the list.

John added: “There’s something magical about hearing carols drift through the air during the holidays.

“Whether you’re out singing them door-to-door, or aboard a coach with three dozen people called Carol or Noel, they’re timelessly festive.

“Singing them at this time of year is almost guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit, even if there’s no snow on the ground.”