A SONG recorded to accompany Otley's new Christmas shopping advert has entered the charts.

The Oak & the Ash, an interpretation of an old English folk song, is the soundtrack to a short, John Lewis style film produced to promote the town's festive credentials.

Performed by 16 year old local singer Sylvia Cullen, the tune has become a viral hit with a social media reach of more than 70,000 since launching.

Available on a variety of digital music services, the early week charts showed that The Oak & The Ash entered the iTunes singer-songwriter category at number 35 - bolstered by a week-long period of pre-orders.

Also known as North Country Maid the song was once a hit for Marianne Faithfull.

The Otley version was arranged by local resident Sally Egan of Opera North, with vocals provided by her daughter and Opera North Youth Chorus member, Sylvia.

The recording took place at Otley’s Limbo Studios, owned by folk musician Phil Snell, in under one hour.

Chairman of Otley Town Council’s Trade and Tourism Committee, Councilllor Paul Carter, who commissioned the Christmas promotional video, said: "We’re thrilled the song has made the charts and hope it can go on to achieve an even higher position as sales progress.

"Sylvia really is a true talent and her collaboration with her mother, the equally gifted Sally Egan, and local musician Phil Snell shows the incredible depth of talent we have in Otley."

Profits from sales of The Oak & The Ash will go to Otley Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Francis’s 14+1 charity appeal.

The song is available on iTunes, Amazon Music and Spotify while the advert it accompanies can be viewed by searching for Make Yours an Otley Christmas on YouTube.