Welshpool's firefighters have paid tribute to the "tremendous support" of the community in a bid to score a Christmas number one, as bookmakers slashed their odds to 2/1 favourites.

Collectively known as the Fire Tones, their single is set to raise money for the Firefighters Charity and the Band Aid Charity Trust.

They were joined by talented fire service personnel from across the country last month, including stars from the X-Factor and The Voice, as they recorded a rendition of classic Band Aid anthem 'Do They Know It's Christmas' to be released as a charity single on December 1.

And now shops and businesses across the town have been displaying their support for the group with some, including town butcher Rikki Lloyd, even displaying last week's County Times front page story in their windows.

Firefighter Chris Birdsell-Jones, who organised the single, said he had been touched by the groundswell of goodwill they had received so far.

"The amount of support we've received since the news broke last week is tremendous, and it's heart-warming actually.

"The backing from the local community has been superb, to walk down the high street and see the likes of Rikki with the posters in the window is great and I can't thank our community enough."

And with the story now spreading nationally, bookmakers have slashed the odds of the single being number one at Christmas.

Having started as rank outsiders at 100/1, the group are now 2/1 favourites with online bookmaker William Hill, ahead of Ed Sheeran, Elton John and the eventual winner of this year's X-Factor.

"Those aren't just local odds, that's a national bookmaker. I'm not a betting man but it just goes to show the confidence that exists in the bid, not just locally but across the country.

"Of course we wish the others the best of luck as well," he added.

The Fire Tones say they are now finishing the artwork for CD's which are ready to go into pressing shortly, ahead of an official digital release on I-tunes and Spotify on December 1.