Two male voice choirs have had their efforts for a centenary concert rewarded with two magnificent glass rose bowls.

Colne Orpheus Glee Union and Nelson Arion Male Voice Choir joined forces to help organise and perform a concert at Blackburn Cathedral to mark 100 years of the National Association of Choirs (NAC).

The Orpheus, formed in 1886, and the Arion, formed in 1887, are the only founding members of the NAC still in existence.

The NAC asked both choirs to celebrate the centenary, and a concert was planned for March 2020 but had to be postponed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

It eventually went ahead last month, featuring both choirs and the 2nd Rossendale Scout Band, raising funds for the East Lancashire Hospice.

The NAC awarded the two rose bowls on engraved plinths as a thank-you.

A spokesperson for the choirs said: "All choirs have been through an uncertain time with the pandemic, not knowing when we could rehearse in person again.

“Now things are getting nearly back to normal, we’re sure there are men out there who might like to join us.

"Singing in a choir is a wonderful hobby, and choirs provide a great social network.”

Both choirs are on the lookout for new members as they prepare new material and make themselves available again for bookings.

The NAC was formed in 1920 at Todmorden to promote choral singing in the north and nationally.

Anyone interested can just turn up on rehearsal nights or contact the choirs for further details.

The Arion rehearses every Monday at Higherford Methodist Church at 7.30pm (inquiries 07944 822102), and Orpheus rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7.30pm are temporarily at Christ Church, Colne, then from January 5 at Colne Legion Club, Keighley Road (inquiries 01282 867152).