AT 7.30pm prompt on Saturday night, choirs all over the country will sing out for local hospices.

Among them will be a 200-strong chorus of dedicated fund-raisers ringing out from the newly refurbished Charter Theatre in Preston.

Voices For Hospices sponsored by BT, will be launched live on Radio 2 which will play a count down to the start.

That's when the 312 theatres taking part will burst out with a rendition of Handel's Messiah.

The choir in Preston will be accompanied by the Haffner Orchestra from Lancaster, under the direction of Professor of Music at Lancaster University Dennis McCaldin.

All proceeds from the Preston concert will go to St Catherine's in Lostock Hall and St John's in Lancaster.

Appeals officer for St Catherine's John Nickson said: "It should be a splendid evening, with so many people taking part.

"And it's a chance to see the newly refurbished Charter Theatre."

Tickets to the event on October 18 are £5 available from the box office at the Guild Hall or by calling 01772 258858.

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