DAFFODIL hats and winter coats were the order of the day as city choir braved freezing temperatures to raise funds for a worthy cause to the delight of local shoppers.

Continuing their long association with Cancer charity Marie Curie, The City of Chester Male Voice Choir once again supported the charity's recent annual fundraising day in Chester.

They sang for visitors and residents outside Debenhams Browns of Chester store. Despite bitterly cold weather, they drew an appreciative audience who donated generously to the Marie Curie appeal, including a young bride to be who had recently booked the choir to sing at her wedding and was delighted to hear some of the songs she has chosen for her big day being performed.

Choir spokesman John Walsh said: "It was so cold singing outside but we couldn't let Marie Curie down having supported them for so many years.

“We were delighted by the response from both locals and visitors to Chester, not to mention meeting the young lady who had recently engaged us to sing at her wedding, it put a big smile on all our faces"

The choir rounded off a busy year by being placed in the top three Male Voice Choirs at The North Wales Choral Festival in November and already have a number of significant events planned for 2018 including a concert at Storyhouse on April 15 with Chester Music Society Choir and Chester Bach Singers under the banner of "Chester Sings".

The choir are also looking foward to welcoming young Britain's Got Talent star Beau Dermott as their guest on July 21 when they appear in concert at the Town Hall in Chester.

In addition, the choir will travel to Belgium in early June where, as part of events to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, they will proudly sing at the Menin Gate Memorial.

The Choir is always keen to welcome new members to swell its ranks. Further details about The City of Chester Male Voice Choir and their open rehearsals which are held at Hoole Methodist Church Hall in Hamilton Street can be found at www.chestermalevoice.com