SOUTHAMPTON residents have the chance to stretch their vocal chords this spring – and help a charity in the process.

Fiona Funnell, pictured left, a Southampton-based composer, is welcoming singers of any ability to her latest pop-up community choir. No experience is required – just enthusiasm and a love for singing.

The choir will meet for eight weekly rehearsals at St Mark’s Church Hall, Archers Road, culminating in a performance at the Turner Sims Concert Hall on July 5.

Fiona’s choir will join performance poet Angela Chicken and other community choirs from Hampshire and Wiltshire in a Sing for Water mini-festival at the Southampton venue.

The concert will raise funds for WaterAid, a charity which brings safe water and sanitation to the world’s poorest people.

Anyone interested in joining the choir can visit Fiona’s website (fionafunnell.co.uk) or call her on 023 8022 0331. The first rehearsal will be on May 12.