CHIPPING Norton Music Festival is in full swing and featured a day of choral singing over the weekend.

The Town Hall was full of voice on Saturday, with nine primary school choirs performing in the morning and seven senior choirs in the afternoon.

The day was completed with a singing workshop in the evening, which celebrated the festival’s 100th anniversary with a specially commissioned piece of music.

Composed by Colin Touchin, who led the 100-strong choir, it was based on Edward Thomas’ poem Adlestop, named after a nearby village.

Festival secretary Rosemary Wilson said: “The festival is going well and the Town Hall was buzzing on Saturday.

“The new composition work had never been seen before and that was so exciting to do.

“There is a lot of goodwill around the festival this year. Everyone knows it is the 100th and everyone wants to promote it, enjoy it and be part of it.”

The festival, which runs until March 24, is thought to be one of the oldest in the UK. It started in 1904, only ceasing briefly during the world wars.

For more information about the festival and tickets, visit cnmf.org.uk