Singers plucked from an Oxford estate to form a classical choir for a television show received a standing ovation after their first major performance.

The 40 members of Ivor's Choir, residents from Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys who were chosen after a series of auditions earlier this year, performed in front 250 invited guests on Saturday.

Family and friends packed a marquee in Blackbird Leys Park to hear just how far the choir including a bouncer, cleaner and bingo-caller had come since it was formed two months ago.

Songs performed included Wild Rover, Ah Robin, Turtle Dove, Carmina Burana, and The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah as well as You'll Never Walk Alone and a specially written song called Blackbird Leys.

The 250-strong crowd clapped to the samba rhythm as the choir sang: "Across the land, across the seas; there is a place we call Blackbird Leys."

BMW worker and budding composer Colin Morris-Smith, from Falcon Close, said: "They asked me if I could write a song and I came up with Blackbird Leys. Everyone joined in that was what it was written for."

Although it is just two weeks before the choir's big finale at London's Royal Albert Hall, many of the singers said Saturday's performance was more nerve-racking.

Mr Morris-Smith, 48, added: "My wife, friends and son were in the audience. I was nervous because it was in Blackbird Leys I knew the people. I was more nervous here than I will be going into the Royal Albert Hall."

Fellow singer Megan Smith, a microbiologist from Knights Road, said: "It's starting to get a bit emotional because we're building up to the Royal Albert Hall concert. It's been a wonderful experience, a bit stressful at times, but I'd never trade it for the world.

"It was great. You could see in the audience's faces they were very appreciative of what we were doing and appreciated the importance of it for the community. People who've known each other before have become closer and others have made new friends."

Sedrene Dyce, from Sandy Lane, went to the concert to see two of her friends perform.

She said: "It was fantastic. I'm surprised, it wasn't what I expected because I hadn't listened to them before. I loved the Blackbird Leys song because it involved the audience and everybody got into it. I feel proud."

Choir conductor Ivor Setterfield praised the choir's community spirit.

He said: "I thought it was a real triumph, they really excelled themselves. It's a great achievement."

A documentary on the choir will be screened on Channel Five in the summer.