A CHURCH choir which may be the last all-male group of its kind in the region is to include female voices for the first time - but only at evensong.

Girls will make their debut in the new year at St Peter's in Stockton.

For all major festivals and communion services, the choir will continue to be all-male.

Choirmaster, Mr George Barber, thinks St Peter's is home to the last all-male choir in the North-East, outside Newcastle and Durham cathedrals.

Mr Barber, who is also the church organist, said: "It is wonderful to see the choir flourishing at the start of the third millennium, but we are always keen to have more boys join our ranks."

Photographs in the vestry showing the choir at the dedication of the church in 1881 are a constant reminder to members of the living musical tradition they uphold.

The choir, which has 12 boys and 20 men, takes part in European tours as well as the whole range of church services and other events.

Several new boys joined recently. One, Thomas Abel, from Hartburn, said: "One of my friends asked if I wanted to give it a try so I did. I had not really done any singing before but I really enjoyed it. It has given me lots of confidence."

Mr Barber, head teacher at Yarm primary school, is optimistic about the future. "Nothing would please me more than to for St Peter's to be one of many male voice choirs and the third millennium may herald a revival for this wonderful music," he said