Eight singers from Oxfordshire will be giving their full vocal support of the British and Irish Lions on their forthcoming tour of New Zealand.

Five members of the Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir, plus three members of the Benson Choral Society, will be Oxfordshire's representatives in a 110-strong choral team drawn from choirs across the home nations in true Lions' tradition.

While in the southern hemisphere, they will perform a wide selection of music at a number of venues under the baton of Dr Haydn James, whose expertise in conducting massed choirs and vast audiences is renowned.

In recent years, he has led the singing of up to 70,000 supporters at Wembley, and rallied the crowds at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff before the last 25 Welsh home international rugby matches.

One of the Oxford contingent, Colin Edwards, said: "Sections of the choir have already given concerts as part of their 'training' for the main All Blacks' tour, performing at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the Wales versus All Blacks game last November, and at the recent Lions versus Argentina match.

"Concerts in Ludlow, the Caf Royal in London, Taunton, Penarth and in Cardiff on June 4, as well as a new CD, will ensure that the choir should be in fine voice on their arrival in New Zealand."

They will assemble in Christchurch on June 22 before singing at the first test match on Saturday, June 25, and giving a concert in Christchurch College.

They then move on to Wellington, where they will sing at the second test match on July 2.

A concert in Auckland Cathedral precedes the final test in that city on Saturday, July 9.

In addition to these scheduled engagements, the choir will also be giving other concerts while on their travels, stopping off in Australia to perform at the world-famous Sydney Opera House on July 11 to bring a fitting end to what promises to be a busy and enjoyable tour.