A mid Wales MP is aiming to take the music charts by storm after joining forces with a country and western singer to record his first single.

Lembit Opik, the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader and MP for Montgomeryshire, plays harmonica and says a few words on his musical debut.

The single - entitled Hank MacGregor's Weekend Rock and Roll Bank featuring Lembit Opik - could see the politician make a surprise bid for the Christmas number one spot.

I hope the public will go out and buy the single and make me and Hank Christmas number one Lembit Opik

But according to bookmakers, it is 500-1 to top the charts at Christmas - and the odds are 50-1 against it even getting into the top 40.

However, Mr Opik is hoping the public may give the single a surprise boost up the charts.

The idea for the song came about after the MP met Mr MacGregor at Newtown's May Festival.

He said: "I feel very privileged to have working on such an excellent project and I hope the public will go out and buy the single and make me and Hank Christmas number one.

"You never know - you may see us both on Top of the Pops in the near future."

Harmonica

Scottish musician Mr MacGregor, who has busked his way around Europe, said Mr Opik hoped to persuade Liberal Democrat members to buy the single.

"It was great working with Lembit. He is a dedicated harmonica player, that's all I'll say," he added.

Mr Opik told BBC Radio Wales: "It's been my instrument of choice with which I've been bothering the nation for about 12 years.

"I've got a cameo piece where I shout, "Hey Hank, is that all I get?", but if you want to know the context, you'll have to buy the single."