THE conductor of a North-East choir is retiring after their next concert to concentrate on other projects.

It does not mean Guisborough Choral Society's Michael Pritchard will be taking it easy, however.

The 61-year-old former music teacher plans to perform at a four-day festival at North Carolina, in the US, after Easter.

Then, in the summer, he and his wife are to walk from Land's End to John O'Groats.

"It is just something I have always wanted to do but have never had the time previously," said Mr Pritchard, of Station Road, Norton, Middlesbrough.

"We will be getting the train down and walking back up, staying at various places along the way, so I am really enjoying planning our route at the moment."

His last concert will be at St Nicholas' Church, Guisborough, on April 5, starting at 7.30pm.

Mr Pritchard said: "I'm going to miss the choral society terribly, because it is all about the discovery of music and getting people to sing.

"I get a real 'Wow' out of helping people to create music. It is something I enjoy enormously - but I have decided it is time to retire from doing it full-time."