A WIDE range of song styles will be performed at jubilee celebrations later this year by a teenage choir.

Nearly 40 youngsters rehearse at Skelton Youth Centre, receiving tuition from Bex Mather, a professional singer from Tyneside.

The project is co-ordinated at Skelton by Saltburn arts development worker Jane Cuthbert.

She said: "The choir number has grown extremely quickly in a few weeks. We started out with 20 teenagers in January and the number has nearly doubled since then. It is open to anyone in the east Cleveland area.

"The boys and girls are aged between 14 and 18 and like to sing pop songs. The plan is to broaden our styles to include jazz and gospel songs. Some of the lads have also formed a smaller acappella group.

"We are based in Skelton for a number of reasons. The choir initially sprung from a previous youth project here, we have rehearsal space at Freebrough College youth centre, and the college has always been good at finding people interested in music and performing."

The youngsters perform at Gisborough Priory on May 31 for the Queen's golden jubilee. Then they travel to Tyneside, in June, for a BBC Music Live concert.