A RETIRED Leyland priest's friendship with a Romanian family has led to a visit by a 42-strong choir from Moldavia next week.

The Reverend Thomas Finch, of Royal Avenue, Leyland, has worked with an ecumenical support group to bring The Friends of Music choir to the Blackburn Diocese from July 12 to 26.

The young choir, aged between 12 and 17, will be giving concerts in several schools in Leyland and the surrounding area before staging a performance at Blackpool's Tower Ballroom.

During their fortnight's visit to Leyland the choir will don traditional Romanian dress to perform a host of carols, religious hymns and secular songs. Their first performance will be at Northbrook Primary School, Bannister Drive, Leyland, next Friday, July 13, at 10.30am, with a concert at Leyland Methodist Church, in Turpin Green Lane, Leyland, the following day at 7.30pm.

Balshaws High School, in Church Road, Leyland, will be the choir's venue on Tuesday, July 17, at 7.30pm before a concert at Bishop Rawstorne High School, in Out Lane, Croston, on Thursday, July 19, at the same time.

On Wednesday, July 18, there will be a noon concert at St George's Church, off Lune Street, Preston, before a performance at Leyland St Mary's RC Church, in Broadfield Drive, and Leyland St Ambrose Parish Church, in Moss Lane, Leyland, on Tuesday, July 24, at 7.30pm.

During the visit the Romanian visitors will stay with families in and around Leyland and hope to see some of the area's tourist hot-spots.

Plans for their visit began last year when Fr Finch was asked to investigate the possibility of bringing the choir to Lancashire after hearing about them from a Romanian family friend.

Church leaders and parishioners formed a committee and won support from local patrons including South Ribble MP David Borrow to assist the choir in the cost of the coach journey across Europe and during their stay in Leyland.

"Donations have been received mainly from churches in Leyland and from friends near and far," Fr Finch said. "In recent years the choir has made a few visits to Western Europe at the invitation, and assisted by, groups like the one in Leyland."