THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to a Hampshire town for a charity concert that will have a surprise for all Saints fans.

The Eastleigh Football Club Silverlake Stadium is to play host to Massed Come and Sing Handel’s Messiah - a concert which aims to bring singers and non-singers together to raise money for people with life-limiting illnesses.

At the event set to take place on Sunday there will be singers from across Europe and Saints’ 1976 FA Cup-winning manager Lawrie McMenemy will appear as a special guest.

He is now encouraging residents to take part in the event and help raise money for local hospices.

He said: “We all like to sing, whether it’s alone in the bathroom, or with your mates at the pub or out on the terraces, but you would never dream that you and your friends could be part of a massed choir made up of singers and non-singers, accompanied by great soloists and an orchestra!

"Here is your chance to have a great day out and help out the many hospices in our area - tell your mates!”

The money raised through the tickets sale will go towards five Hampshire hospices including the Countess Mountbatten Hospice in West End, Naomi House and Jacksplace Children Hospice in Winchester , Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington, Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville and St Michael’s Hospice in Basingstoke.

The event will mark the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and is organised by Voices for Hospice Choir, a movement originally founded in 1989 to support hospices in Esher, Surrey.

Jenny Sutton, 70, retired, from Colden Common, is one of the organiser of the event.

She said: “It’s very important for us because it’s for Hampshire hospices and we want Hampshire people singing for it. It’s a great thing to do.

“The feeling you get when you are singing it’s always emotional but knowing that you are singing for a good cause it makes it an even more special moment.

“It will be a lovely occasion and we are looking forward to it.”

Among the guests this year there will also be the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mr Nigel Atkinson and Mrs Atkinson, the Mayor of Eastleigh, councillor Maureen Sollitt and Stewart Donald, Eastleigh Football Club’s chairman.

The doors will open at 10am with singers rehearsing from 11am to 1.30pm while the performance will start at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost £20 for singers and £10 for the public while the event is free for children under 12. To book visit tickets@vfhchoir.com.