Has anyone had any carol singers this year?

It's perhaps a sign of the times but the only 'carol signers' seen out on our streets so far have been teenagers, some of who apparently don't even make an effort.

One reader of our blog recently e-mailed us to say that she had answered the door to 4 teenagers aged around 16 signing 'We wish you a Merry Christmas' and remembers a time when children used to come knocking on her door reciting a range of different carols.

However, in the past decade or so door-to-door carol singing has started to fade. "I used to recognise most of the children who came knocking on my door from the local church. Quite often they would come round with their parents and I'd give them a donation, some chocolate or a mince pie" Sarah, from the Hollins Grove area of Darwen, told us.

Along with Halloween & Guy Fawkes night, the nights leading up to Christmas are growing increasingly quiet, apart from an occasional group of teenagers who perhaps go door to door hoping to raise a bit of extra pocket money for themselves rather than 'a penny for the Guy'.

"I doubt the lads who called round would have been too happy with a mince pie so I gave them a bit of money but I didn't know who they were - none of my neighbours have teenage children." Sarah's email continued.

"A couple of them had Santa hats on but the others just had tracksuit tops with their hoods pulled up over their faces."

So why have church carol singers faded away over the years and children asking for donations for the Guy been replaced with teenagers looking for money to buy their next firework?

Perhaps it's another case of modern day lack of "community" and parents reluctance to send their younger children out onto the streets at night singing carols.

On the other hand maybe those teenagers making an "effort" should be praised rather than feared? What is your take on this - have you had any carol singers this year? Do you know of any local churches who are sending out organised carol signers?