A male voice choir has been chosen to represent England to help kick off the Commonwealth Games.

Macclesfield Male Voice Choir was given the honour of starting the festivities in Glasgow for the huge sporting event, which will see countries from across the Commonwealth compete in a variety of disciplines.

The choir were in fine voice as they performed at the Voices of the Commonwealth at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on Sunday, June 1, performing with 400 other choristers to an audience of around 5,000 people.

The 50 choristers from Macclesfield sang together as a group before singing alongside choirs from around the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the Seychelles.

Don Riseley, a member of the choir, said: “We were invited to a civic reception by the Lord Provost of Glasgow at the City Hall and made to feel very welcome. Each of the Choirs sang on their own in the first half of the concert and then all choristers came together for the second half. To sing in front of an audience of 5,000 can be a bit nerve -racking but the choir took centre stage and did everyone very proud and the audience certainly showed their approval. We walked off stage with our heads held high.

“Some of the choristers wives made the journey north with us as did our President Coun Alift Harewood and our emeritus president John Moss.

“On our way home we called at the Lockerbie Memorial Garden just to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be alive and have the privilege of taking part in such a fantastic event.”