TRADITIONAL hymns and songs from the Swinging Sixties are just some of the musical challenges awaiting the first recruits in a historic campaign to create a 1,000-strong choir.

To mark the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to their spiritual home in Durham Cathedral, members of the public have been invited to join a community choir and perform at a concert on Palace Green in July.

The search for singers, which is backed by The Northern Echo, has attracted a great deal of interest, with more than 140 individuals and several choirs from across the region already signed up.

On Saturday, the Lindisfarne Gospels Community Choir will have its first rehearsal from 2pm to 5pm at the Chorister School, next to Durham Cathedral.

Mish Kelly, director of musical outreach at the cathedral, said the first recruits, who range from complete novices to experienced singers, could expect a fun and welcoming session, covering everything from traditional hymns to The Beatles’ greatest hits.

“It is all about the joy of singing and the more people who join us the merrier,” she said.

“I expect some people will be quite nervous so I want to make everyone feel relaxed.

This rehearsal will be a chance to find out what kind of voices people have and give people the opportunity to try singing different parts.

“We will also play musical games to help people get to grips with reading music. It should be really good fun and a chance to get to know each other.”

The Lindisfarne Gospels journeyed the length and breadth of Northern England with St Cuthbert’s remains and it is hoped the choir will eventually include members from Lindisfarne, York, Carlisle and many other points along the route.

So far, the campaign has attracted singers of all ages and from as far afield as Manchester.

Choirs taking part include: Sage Choirs, The Forge, Durham Scratch Choir, Cleveland Philharmonic, St Leonard’s School, and Blue Coat Junior School in Newton Hall, Durham City.

The British Library has also pledged to send across singers to perform in the July concert, which coincides with the opening of the Gospels Exhibition in the city.

Anyone is interested in joining should call Michele McCallion on 03000-261948.