A CHESTER-le-Street choir will take part in a nationwide singing competition next weekend.

Staff, foster carers and looked-after children from Foster Care Associates (FCA), which has offices in the town and is celebrating its 21th anniversary, will tale part in the Big Sing Off .

The choir, called the Soulful Toons, will sing on Saturday, April 18, at Chateau Impney, Worcestershire, against 14 other choirs.

The choir will be singing ‘songs from the movies’.

The choir co-ordinator and supervising social worker for FCA North East, Jayne Saul, said: “Everyone is extremely excited about testing their singing and performance skills against choirs from across the UK and we are all looking forward to what should be a terrific event and a wonderful celebration of the great things we do at FCA.

“Rehearsals have been going well and are slowly building as we get closer to the big day. But the most important thing is that it has been a really positive experience for the young people, carers and staff and there has been a great spirit within the choir.

“Whether we win or lose the choir has been a pleasure to be a part of.”