A group of singing firefighters hoping to take part in a special 9/11 memorial concert have added almost £500 to their fundraising pot.

The Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Choir was born out of a BBC television show The Choir: Sing While You Work, and saw Macclesfield firefighters discover their talent for singing.

Original members Matt Lloyd and Phil Marke, together with newest chorister Daniel Selby, are now hoping to represent the borough at a poignant Memorial Concert at Ground Zero in New York.

In order to raise enough money for the trip, next February, the trio took on a challenge to climb 830meters, the combined height of the twin towers, while wearing full fire kit.

Macclesfield Watch Manager Phil Marke said: “Despite the weather the event was a great success and we would like to thank everyone who supported us on the day, either by buying cakes, encouraging us on our ladder climb or enjoying listening to the choir singing.

“This event raised £469.20 which brings the total raised so far to just over £1,500 to help us raise money for our flights and accommodation to New York to sing at Ground Zero Memorial Plaza.

“The events of that fateful day in September 2001 had a profound effect on all of us in the UK fire and rescue service. Performing our signature song, The Rising, is our way of never forgetting our colleagues in America and to be able to perform it at Ground Zero will be a most moving and poignant experience. We will also be meeting New York firefighters to share comradeship and hear their stories from that day.”

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Choir - Daniel Selby (extreme left), Matt Lloyd (3rd left), Phil Marke (extreme right)

Other choir members were also at the event to sing to support their colleagues.

The memorial concert will be held in February 2016 and the choir will perform their signature song, The Rising.

The song, written by Bruce Springsteen, is always sung at the end of all their performances as it tells the story of a firefighter who is inside one of the towers on that fateful day and realises he isn’t going to survive.

Choir members are raising money for flights and accommodation, and will be taking annual leave for the trip.

The choir has also been invited to sing in a special concert at the Carnegie Hall where they will be performing Paul Mealor’s ‘Stabat Mater’.

They are hoping to raise a total of £8,000.

To donate go to https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/daniel-selby .

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Choir - Firefighter Matt Lloyd, middle Firefighter Daniel Selby, bottom Watch Manager Phil Marke