A head girl chorister in the region has become the youngest finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year 2004 competition.

Charity Mapletoft, of York Minster Choir, will be one of eight finalists - four boys and four girls - who will take part in the final on Saturday.

They have been selected from more than 200 entries from cathedrals and churches across the country, and will perform in front a panel of celebrity judges at All Souls' Church, Langham Place, London.

Charity, 12, is a pupil at the Minster School and has sung with the Minster Choir for five years.

Minster organist and director of the girl choristers, John Scott Whiteley, said: "Her obtaining a place in the final is an outstanding triumph. She is the youngest of the four finalists by several years, and we are delighted by her achievement."

The winners, a boy and a girl, will each receive a trophy and a prize of £500. In addition, their choirs will receive a BBC Choristers' award of £1,000.

The winners will also get the chance to appear on Radio 2's Good Morning Sunday and Sunday Half Hour, Radio 4's Daily Service, as well as a television appearance on BBC1's Songs Of Praise.

Published: 26/10/2004