A TALENTED singer has proved she can hit the highest notes after being awarded the Bishop's Medal for her choral performance.

Caroline Howarth, who is a member of Darlington's All Saints and Salutation congregation, has achieved the second-highest award from the Royal School of Church Music after impressing with her singing.

After progressing through the ranks of the church's junior choir, she showcased her talents during a rigorous examination process where she performed a number of choral works including singing a hymn – with one verse unaccompanied – an anthem and a psalm.

"I just love music," she said. "I have been singing in a choir since I was seven-years-old, I also play the piano and am currently training to be a piano teacher.

"I'm really thrilled to have achieved this standard, there were only two people in for the exam from the region this time and I was the only one from Darlington. It is such an honour to win this award."

Successful candidates are entitled to wear a prestigious medal cast in the appropriately coloured metal – bronze, silver or gold – and wear them on a distinctive ribbon to mark their achievements.

She added: "I get presented with the Bishop's Medal in October and then I can start working towards achieving the highest distinction – the Gold medal."