AN award-winning Swindon-based choir will pack its bags and fly off to Italy this week to take part in the Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival in the South Tyrol.

The Wessex Male Choir will join around 50 other choirs from around the world but will be the only choir from England taking part.

Over the five day festival the choir will perform at many venues throughout the event as well as at the Plan de Corones under the 'Campana della Concordia' - the second biggest Italian bell after the bell of Rovereto - at an altitude of 2275 metres.

On the final day all choirs take part in the choirs parade through the streets of San Candido where 3,000 voices will sing together and the choir's musical director, Katrine Reimers has been invited to conduct the massed choirs.

The choir has also had a tour jersey designed to make sure they stand out from the crowd.

Guy Edwards, the choir’s chairman said: "We have worked extremely hard on our repertoire in the last year and we are looking forward to representing the UK in front of an International audience. It will be an exciting few days for all involved."

Fresh from their success earlier this year at the Mid Somerset Festival in Bath and winning the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Performing Arts Festival for the third time in May, the choir will host their summer concert at STEAM in Swindon on July 16.

Tickets for the Summer Concert with the choir and their guests - the Jubilate Ladies Choir - are available from the Wessex Male Choir on 01793 852786, the information desk in Swindon Central Library, from STEAM or by emailing tickets@wessexmalechoir.co.uk.