Downton Abbey will come to Romsey Abbey when one of its stars and its creator take part in a Christmas concert.

Actor and singer Julian Ovenden, who played Charles Blake in the fourth series of Downton, will be singing at the event in aid of the Gift of Sight charity and the creator of the rating-topping stately home drama, Julian Fellowes will be giving a reading.

A group of Hampshire women led by retired ophthalmologist Dr Philly Sargent has been meeting around a kitchen table for many months to plan the event.

This event committee has already raised more than £200,000 for Gift of Sight which helps fund world-class research led by Professor of Ophthalmology Andrew Lotery and his team at the University of Southampton.

Clinicians and scientists are studying the causes of common blinding eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration, complications to vision caused by diabetes and many other rare diseases which add up to a huge burden of blindness. Clinical trials of gene therapy, which may eventually provide more effective cures for blindness, have already started in Southampton.

Patients of all ages are taking part in the research with a new initiative to study eye conditions specifically affecting babies and children.

Community fund raiser for Gift of Sight Mrs Ailsa Walter said: “We are very grateful to Dr Sargent and her ladies for their superb fund-raising efforts and this year’s concert seems yet another winner.” Also taking part will be Aurum Vocale singers, under the direction of conductor Nicholas Wilks, and cricket legend David Gower, who will be giving a reading.

Already more than 250 tickets for the concert, on Friday, December 12, have been sold. Tickets (priced £25-£35) can be obtained from Romsey Tourist Information Centre on 01794 512987 or on line at musicinromsey.ticketsource.co.uk