A CULCHETH choir, which started with just six members two years ago, are to take part in their first major contest in Wales this weekend.

Village Voices are competing in the North Wales Choral Festival in Llandudno on Sunday.

Linda Burns, choir secretary, said: "It's the first time the choir has done anything like this. We would be thrilled to bits if we did win it.

"We're competing against six other choirs in the mixed choir category and we've been practicing weekly since June.

"We've gone from singing in unison to complicated three and four-part pieces."

Village Voices is now made up of more than 20 members, aged between 43 and 71, led by choir director Trevor King. Their signature song is an arrangement of Adele's Make You Feel My Love.

Linda, from Croft, became interested in singing when her husband Mark bought her lessons about seven years ago. Then she discovered Village Voices through her friend Christine.

The 53-year-old added: "I think singing is very therapeutic. If you come to choir with things on your mind it definitely detracts from it.

"We have a giggle and there are some real characters in our choir. The hour goes really fast and we always go home with a smile on our faces."

The choir's first concert was at the Culcheth Eagles Christmas Fair last November and they regularly perform at residential homes.

But now they are already booked up for the year with performances at Victorian Day in Culcheth, the Christmas Tree light switch-on ceremony in Glazebury and Alder Hey Children Hospital in December.

Mum-of-two Linda said: "I must say most of us end up with tears in our eyes when you hear the children and parents singing.

"The children play bells and shakers and other instruments alongside us. It's quite moving."

The choir's plan for the New Year is to join the National Association of Choirs which will open the doors to exchange with other choirs abroad.