A SINGING group is taking a novel approach to recruiting members by joining in an international event raising money for hospices.

The North Yorkshire Chorus is staging an open rehearsal on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day as part of the Voices for Hospices scheme.

Voices for Hospices is the world's largest simultaneous musical event, and involves more than 500 musical events in 60 countries around the world every two years.

Since it started in the Eighties, with a single fundraising concert put on by a London palliative care centre, about £5.5m has been raised. It now involves more than a million people.

Chorus chairman Tony May said: "This is a great opportunity to invite potential new members, as well as helping in the fundraising effort.

"We are always pleased to welcome new people interested in singing with us but, in addition, we hope members of other choirs will come along -plus anyone who is simply interested to find out what a choir rehearsal is like."

The open rehearsal will be held in Northallerton Methodist Church between 2pm and 5pm on Saturday, October 6.

The pieces to be studied are Vivaldi's Gloria and Handel's Coronation Anthems. A performance of both will be given at 4pm.

People are welcome to come to go and listen to the rehearsals and the performance.

A collection will be taken and the proceeds shared between Teesside Hospice and Herriot Hospice Homecare.