A CATHEDRAL broke with more than 900 years of tradition as the first girls to be allowed into a choir held their inaugural rehearsal.

Ten choristers-elect, aged between nine and 12, set off from The Chorister School, in Durham City, to Durham Cathedral for their first rehearsal yesterday afternoon.

The cathedral announced its intention to admit girls to its choir in May last year.

Would-be choristers study at The Chorister School, the old stamping ground of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, while undergoing voice training and an intensive rehearsal schedule.

Famously, they cannot even expect a break on Christmas Day – as the cathedral hosts festive services.

Ian Hawksby, headteacher at The Chorister School, said: “This is an extremely exciting time for the cathedral, The Chorister School and most of all for the girls themselves.

“An enormous amount of work and planning has taken place over the past few years, and it is wonderful to see it come to fruition at last.”

It is hoped the ten girls will begin singing in cathedral services after the October half-term holiday.

The girls are: Diana Rowland, 11; Francesca Brown, 12; Anna Roberts, 12; Sarah Dover, ten; Beatrice Smellie, ten; Susannah Smellie, ten; Honor Halford-MacLeod, nine; Beth Clark, nine; Clara Skelton-Foord, nine; and Catherine Pemberton, 12.

Catherine said: “All three of my brothers have been choristers here, but I never thought I would get the chance to be one too. It’s a real privilege.

“I’m a bit nervous but really looking forward to it all.

“I think it’s great that girls can finally be choristers and sing in the Cathedral too. It’s very exciting.”

James Lancelot, Master of the Choristers and a cathedral organist, said: “They are a splendid group of girls.

“We are very much looking forward to working together and intend to have them on full parity with the boys next year.”

The girls will alternate with the boys who currently sing the choir’s soprano line.

Originally only monks were eligible for the choir.

Laymen and boys were first admitted in the 16th Century.

* Pictured, from left, first female choristers Catherine Pemberton, Honor Halford-MacLeod, Sarah Dover, Anna Roberts, Susannah Smellie, Beatrice Smellie, Clara Skelton-Foord, Diana Rowland, Beth Clark and Francesca Brown,