CHOIRS came together from across the UK to sing at an annual event.

The Bolton Festival of Male Voice Praise was held on Saturday at The Victoria Hall Methodist Church.

The Bolton event is now in its 40th year and has been held at The Victoria Hall for the second year running.

The 86-strong choir includes members from Bristol, Cheltenham, Chesterfield and Glasgow.

Training for the performance has been intense, with the group rehearsing for six months in the lead up to the event.

The practice made perfect, however, as the festival managed to attract more than 300 audience members, all there to hear a rousing programme filled with traditional hymns of praise.

Mike Dewhurst, area organiser for the festival was pleased with how the event unfolded.

He said: “I was very happy with the event.

“Although last year’s event in Bolton was good, I’ve got to say this year’s event was even better.

“Not only was the choir bigger, but the crowd turnout was even bigger than last year's which was really pleasing to see.”

The choirs are part of a nationwide organisation, The Festival of Male Voice Praise, which can trace its history back more than 80 years.

The choir group runs events across the country, but has looked to Bolton to provide a location for the northern sections of its membership for several years.

Plans for hosting the event in Bolton again have not yet been discussed, but Mr Dewhurst says that the choir will return to Victoria Hall if shows in Bolton are in the works.