A "WILDCARD" choir who were representing the North-East in a TV singing competition have gone out on a high despite failing to reach the final.

Mums in Durham, who sing together at Bearpark Community Centre, near Durham, were taking part in Gareth Malone’s search for Britain’s most entertaining amateur choir.

In the previous round they were picked as the winners of the “Scotland and the North” region.

But their upbeat rendition of the Spice Girls' Who Do You Think You Are was not enough to secure them a spot in the final.

Choir member Rachael Gibson, from Crook, said: "We couldn’t have done anything differently – we pushed ourselves to the limit and went out on a high note.

“We’re really proud of the performance and we worked so hard towards it. We don’t regret any of it. It’s been brilliant."

Helen Pace, from Durham, added: “It was a much bigger audience than we were used to. When we performed in Bearpark it was our friends and family and everyone was over the moon for us. Singing in front of a panel of judges and an audience of people we didn’t know was quite daunting.

“It was an amazing feeling though. When it was over we just wanted to go straight back on. I think it was quite clear we had very little experience compared to the other choirs. We were definitely the wild cards but we did our best to rise to the challenge.”

The choir is now planning its first big performance since appearing on the show and is singing at the Durham Christmas festival on Friday, December 2.

They will be singing on Palace Green between 12pm and 12.45pm and in Durham Market Place from 1.15pm to 2pm

Colin Wilkes, of Durham Markets Company which is organising the festival with Durham University, commented: “We’re sure the Mums in Durham will be hugely popular, and we’re looking forward to meeting them in person. They’ve really made the city proud."