A church will celebrate the 80th consecutive year of presenting Handel's Messiah later this month.

Churchgoers from Spendmore Lane Methodist Church, Coppull, will present the famous oratorial on Sunday, November, 27.

Handel's masterpiece is presented on the last Sunday of November every year, and organisers are hoping to put on a special meal to celebrate.

The show is performed by a 35-strong choir who only meet for a couple of rehearsals because they know the concert so well.

Organiser Janet Davenport, 56, who worships at the church, has been singing Messiah for more than 25 years and said it is a very uplifting show.

"People travel from far afield to take part and watch. This time because it is the 80th we've having a special Messiah tea, but normally the guests go to the houses of people in the area for something to eat."

The version of Messiah presented at the church starts at 2.30pm and stops after an hour. The finale resumes at 6.15pm and finishes around 8pm.

Messiah is Handel's most popular oratorio and the most famous song is Hallelujah, which is played twice in the Spendmore Lane church's version.

Mrs Davenport, whose husband Philip conducts the orchestra and children Simon, James, Helen also sing in the choir, said the format adds to its popularity.

"It's very special to sing in it, we will give 110 per cent and it will be a wonderful occasion," she added.