THREE top tenors are hitting the high notes for charities close to their hearts.

Tenori, made up of Leigh singers John Marsden and John Christodoulou plus Alex Grove from Didsbury, are staging Three Tenors-style concerts at venues throughout the north west to raise £10,000 for Cancer Research.

They will be stopping off at Leigh Parish Church on Saturday at 7pm where they will perform music ranging from Tom Jones to big numbers including Puccini's Nessum Dorma.

The classically trained tenors have a growing reputation in the opera world and have performed individually with the English National Opera, at Covent Garden, the Royal Festival Hall and the Albert Hall.

The friends, all trained at Manchester's Royal College of Music, got together last summer because they had gaps in their opera calendar.

During resting periods the two Johns worked for John Marsden's Homeshield company in Leigh digging out footings for conservatories.

While slogging in over 80 degrees sunshine the two lads let rip with their repertoire and thrilled customers with their voices.

As a result they decided to form Tenori to help charities, this year Cancer Research in memory of Alex's father Raymond who died from a brain tumour.

Next year they will aim to raise the same amount for the British Heart Foundation after John's father Christiakis died from heart trouble and the following year for the National Kidney Research Fund in honour of his father-in-law Michael Johnson, a violin maker and restorer.

John Marsden, of Chapel Street, is a former Leigh St Mary's High pupil and has lived in the town all his life while John Christodoulou from Monton moved to Emerald Avenue, Leigh, from where he also teaches.

Tickets at £8 adults, £6.50 concessions, are available by contacting John Christodoulou on 01942 518624.