Somewhere 2 Sing choir perform in Hitchin's Market Square

A crowd gathered to listen to a medley of 10 songs, which included the hit Hold Back The River by singer-songwriter James Bay, who was a former pupil at Hitchin Boys’ School.

There was also Adele’s When We Were Young; along with The Greatest Showman’s This Is Me and Let’s Get Loud, the energetic dance hit by singing superstar Jennifer Lopez.

The show ended with Diana Ross’s Ain’t No Mountain, which got shoppers, families and friends singing and dancing along.

One girl even did cartwheels across the square, which was bathed in sunshine.

Anthony, who travelled with his wife Alison, son Jordan and their dog Ruby from Southsea, in Hampshire, to support his sister, who was singing in the choir, said: "We really enjoyed it.

"The choir sounded amazing and there was a good selection of songs. We had a long journey this morning, but it was great to be here."

Choir members also expressed their delight. One said: "It was fun to sing with everyone. We have been learning the songs in our groups, so it was lovely to perform them together in front of a crowd."

Somewhere 2 Sing is a 500-strong choir with groups across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex.

Founder Duncan Rutherford, who conducted the event in Hitchin, said: "We've performed at many high-profile events over the last year, including Disneyland Paris and St Albans Cathedral, but sometimes it’s just really nice to get out into the local community and spread some joy and some music and show people how uplifting it can be when we unite through a bit of singing," he said.

The performance is among a series of exciting opportunities for the choir this summer. They include recording Somewhere 2 Sing’s first ever EP (mini album) at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London in July.

Celebrated artists from The Beatles to Adele have all recorded there. The songs will include a new work written and composed by Duncan.

The choir will also perform at arguably the best busking spot in Britain, which is outside St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden in London, on August 5 at midday.

Last Christmas the choir released a music video of Somewhere In My Memory from the hit film Home Alone, which raised thousands of pounds for the charity, Shelter.

Somewhere 2 Sing was founded by Duncan in 2016 in Hertford with 20 members and it has since grown across the region and now welcomes more than 500 members each week.

The choir is open to adults - whether with previous singing experience or none at all - in Hitchin, Stevenage, Hertford, Bishop’s Stortford, Ware, Biggleswade, Leighton Buzzard, Ampthill, Saffron Walden and from September, new choir groups are launching in Welwyn Garden City, Royston and a new Hitchin lunchtime session too.

There are between 30 and 90 members in each group, singing a range of popular songs in informal classes with the opportunity to perform in shows.

The social aspect also promotes mental health and wellbeing, too.

For more details about the Somewhere 2 Sing choir go to somewhere2sing.co.uk.