A VIRUS which swept through Barnsley Youth Choir at the European Choir Games leaving one member in hospital didn't stop them coming away as quadruple champions. 

The 62 members who travelled to Riga arrived back in Barnsley to a heroes' welcome on Monday as crowds of parents and supporters gathered to cheer their arrival at Horizon Community College. But they were minus one member, 17-year-old James Major, who had been taken seriously ill and had to stay in Latvia in hospital. 

He was being treated on a drip as the rest of the exhausted choir boarded flights home after their ten-day trip. He's now back home and fully recovered.

More than half of the choir had been affected by the virus, with 12 becoming particularly unwell with sickness. It meant several were unable to take part in the four contests during the week-long event, including some key soloists.   

After being reunited with their families who came to meet them from the coach, the choir were tired and groggy from travelling through the night and all morning, and after singing all week - but they regrouped to give one final performance to all their supporters. It was caught on video by the Barnsley Chronicle.

They hadn't slept for 28 hours and musical director Mat Wright said it was far from their best performance, but it still moved many to tears. 

BYC entered two categories at the event in Riga - Gospel, Spiritual, Music of Spirit and Faith, and Jazz, Pop and Show. They won both outright. But they were also invited to sing in two additional Grand Prix of Nations contests against the very top choirs. They won both of those too.  

There will be a full special report in all editions of Friday's Barnsley Chronicle. To see the video click here.