A RETIRED teacher has penned a song for the Rio Olympics.

James Gilman, from Newton Hall, Durham, has previous success in the field, having had two of his songs for Beijing 2008 performed at the Sage Gateshead by a 650-strong choir.

One, Sailing for Qingdao, won an award from the Chinese Olympic Sailing Committee and Mr Gilman appeared as a guest on a hugely popular Chinese chat show.

Two songs, Twenty-One-Two and London Calls!, Mr Gilman wrote for London 2012 were recorded by Durham School.

Mr Gilman is now looking for a North-East group to perform and record his Rio tune.

"I'm not looking for choir members or pop groups or people with singing skills.

"My idea is to recreate the sound of a group of ordinary people, like those you'd find in a pub or on the footy terraces or in a club, singing their non-musical hearts out for the fun of it and in support of Team Britain, fighting for us in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games."

Anyone interested should email: james.gilman@btinternet.com