A COMMUNITY choir from Barnsley are celebrating after picking up a trophy at the Hull International Choir Competition.

Barnsley Singers competed in the event over the May bank holiday weekend, with more than 80 of its members taking part.

They competed in two categories - winning one - and achieved a gold diploma in both.

Barnsley Singers was set up in 2016 as a unauditioned community choir to serve the town and is now nearly in its ninth year.

Musical director Luke Mather told the Chronicle: “A week on and the choir still cannot believe it.

“In Barnsley Singers’ winning category, they were up against acapella choirs from the Netherlands, Lithuania and Slovakia - a truly international competition.

“Out of the 25 choirs who competed from across the world, Barnsley Singers were one of only five trophy winning choirs and the only English choir to do so.

“The other winning choirs were from Wales, Sweden, Croatia and Turkey.

“It is quite hard to fathom the levels of effort from every member of the choir to achieve at an internationally renowned festival.

“The singers had a life-changing experience in Hull, and will keep it in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

“It was an amazing feeling to represent Barnsley and Great Britain at such a prestigious international competition.”