A LIFE-CHANGING community choir in County Durham is giving music lovers the opportunity to sing, laugh, make friends and have fun.

The Sing for Life Choir was set up eight years ago as a way of providing a healthy exercise for people with a range of medical problems.

Soon after starting up, the Spennymoor chorus opened its doors to the whole of the community in a bid to keep membership up but maintained that same supportive environment.

Now the group is made up of about 40 singers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, who meet weekly at the town's Leisure Centre for rehearsals.

Liz Dicker, of Newton Aycliffe, has been a member from the outset and is in charge of securing funds to keep the choir running.

"I joined at the beginning after I moved from Devon to Newton Aycliffe," said Liz. "They couldn't get enough people with bad chests so they opened it up.

"We sing everything - classics, opera and Duncan Brown (musical director) brings some beautiful things in.

"We have a lot of fun, there's a lot of team work and there's a lot of support for each other.

"People say how their lives have changed (because of it)."

The choir welcomes anyone who wants to join and is supportive towards people with various health issues, the hard of hearing and those who are isolated or bereaved.

Part of that supportive atmosphere means new members are paired up with a friendly mentor.

One of the newer members, Lynn Appleby, of Newton Aycliffe, joined the choir last September following her retirement.

"Singing was something I used to do when I was younger," she said. "I've always enjoyed singing and wanted to get back into it.

"I retired, then time passed and I thought 'I want something for me'.

"I was becoming isolated, my working life had been such a big part of my life so once I left my social life diminished.

"I have made lots of new friends, it's given me something to focus on and look forward to and brings a sense of achievement."

Colin Hodgson, of Newton Aycliffe, has been part of the choir for four years and is among a healthy core of men - something quite unusual for singing groups.

"It's brilliant," he said. "There are all kinds of people - musicians and non-musicians - and it doesn't matter. The choir adapts so everybody is happy. Singing is a great leveller."

The retired engineer added: "It gives me a great deal of satisfaction because I love singing. I've made great friends."