A CHOIRMASTER is appealing to singers to come forward as he attempts to set up a specialist choir for Lancashire.

Neil Shepherd, of Spa Garth, Clitheroe, is hoping to establish a new choir that will be known as a "Schola Cantorum Chamber Choir."

And the 41-year-old father-of-two now wants to attract 30 experienced singers from across the county to help him achieve his goal.

A one-time member of Blackburn Cathedral's Renaissance Singers, Mr Shepherd has spent the last 11 years as organist and director of music at Cirencester Parish Church in Gloucester-shire, the third largest parish church in the country.

He is originally from Hindley, near Wigan, and moved back to the North West three months ago to be near to his father, who was ill.

An enthusiastic organ player since the age of 10, Mr Shepherd is now organist at Standish Parish Church and previously ran a large choir during his time in Cirencester. His aim now is to bring that same experience to East Lancashire.

He said: "So many churches these days don't have choirs and it is a shame that members of their congregations very rarely experience good quality choral music in beautiful buildings which lend themselves to it.

"I've got 22 years' experience as a choral director and decided to start one here.

"One of my main interests is church music and there are a lot of singers who don't sing with church choirs or on a regular basis because the church only holds a service on a Sunday.

"I feel there is a need to start something different that can then perform in village churches or even bigger cathedrals. And it's not just about performing in the Ribble Valley but Lancashire wide and let people take part in something on a wider scale."

Mr Shepherd is looking for people with sufficient musical skills to be able to learn music in advance, then rehearse on the day of a performance to put it all together.

He said that as long as people are of a reasonable musical standard there will be no need to rehearse on a weekly basis, instead meeting at the venue in the hours before the performance.

If you are interested contact Neil Shepherd on 01200 429113 or email neil@neilshepherd.co.uk.