A RECTOR with eight churches and only one choir is forming a mobile choir to boost the choral presence in a scattered rural area.

Robert Sellers, newly-appointed Rector of Fountains, near Ripon, wants to establish the group so they can sing at major festivals in his benefice.

To help launch the scheme he has volunteered to sing in the choir himself.

Mr Sellers is no stranger to singing. Before being ordained he was organist and choirmaster at Stamford Bridge, near York.

In his previous parish as vicar in Cornwall Mr Sellers acted as stand-in organist while a replacement was found.

"It means a bit of moving around, but it can certainly be done," he said after doubling as vicar and organist.

Hours after putting out his plea for a benefice choir three people volunteered and he is hopeful of more taking up the offer. The choir would be needed to sing at special celebrations including Easter and some choral evensongs to "work up a nice setting for the worship".

Mr Sellers has one of the most widely scattered patches in the Ripon and Leeds Diocese.

There are churches at Dallowgill, Aldfield, Sawley, Winksley, Kirkby Malzeard, Grewelthorpe and Mickley, along with a village hall which doubles for a church at Studley. Only Kirkby has its own permanent choir.

He says some of the parishes are simply too small to raise a choir although others would have had them in the past.

He sees his mobile "have music will travel" special celebration choir an ideal solution. There is no age limit for the choir, just an ability to sing.

For details, call (01765) 658260.