They came to dance on silent night

There was the additional attraction of observing friends sing and dance to music only they could hear.

For a touch of colour, organisers provided glowsticks and neon face-paint and proceeds were swelled by a raffle for prizes including tickets to a West End show and a bottle of high-end whisky.

The "silent" treatment appeared to work well for most.

Sophie Kay, 23, said the concept offered a change from a typical club night.

"I'd never been to one before but really enjoyed it," she said. "Even though it's just a gimmick, it really breaks the ice.

"People were sceptical about it working, but once the headphones were on you forgot that the music wasn't playing out loud."

YMDA committee chair David Greenberg was delighted by the success of the evening."It was fantastic to see so many new people supporting MDA for the first time."

See more pictures from the Silent Disco here