A GIRLS' choir from a Hereford school have been named 'Choir of the Year' in a national competition.

Hereford Cathedral School's Cantabile Girls' Choir headed to the Royal Festival Hall where they were crowned winners of Barnardo’s School Choir of the Year.

It was the first time the group had entered the competition and they wowed judges with two pieces – A Bunch of Thyme and Dance to Your Daddy, singing with wonderful balance and blend under the direction of maestro Jo Williamson, with Rhiannon Davies as accompanist.

Ms Williamson said: "The performance at the festival hall by Cantabile Girls’ Choir was outstanding and I am extremely proud to be their Musical Director. We now wait with excitement for a piece specially written for us by Douglas Coombes which we will perform at the Albert Hall later in the year."

The school’s Junior School Chamber Choir also did themselves proud in the junior competition.