SUE Warhurst loves to sing gospel music.

She started the Glasshouse Bootleg Community Choir six years ago to give Sale people a chance to enjoy this happy style of singing.

At the time, she was with a Gospel choir at Gorton Monastery led by keyboard player, Mark McKenzie.

She persuaded him to come to Sale as choir master and advertised a gospel singing workshop on social media.

She said: “It was at The Avenue Methodist Church and 45 people turned up. I took a crate of wine and some cakes and was admonished by the church who do not allow alcohol.

That is why I decided to call it a bootleg choir,” she said.

"We make everyone welcome. To join, you needn’t have sung before and we don’t use sheet music.

“We meet at the Moorhouse Pub on Monday nights,” she said.

They plan to help Ashton-upon-Mersey village raise money for Christmas lights by giving a concert at St Martin’s church on Saturday, September 29 at 7 pm.

“Even though we are in a church, gospel singing isn’t necessarily about religion," said Sue.

“It’s about singing from the soul ­— joyful and uplifting.

“As a community choir, everyone is welcome, regardless of age or experience.”

The youngest choir member is 14 and the oldest, 80.

“At the concert, we will encourage people to join in songs they know such as I will follow him, Amazing Grace, Light a candle or Oh Happy Day.

Fizz and canapés will be available afterwards.

“We sing hard, work hard and have a lot of fun,” said Sue.

The glasshouse choir will be singing outdoors at Worthington Park at 7 pm on October 27, the night the clocks go back.

* Tickets, £10 for adults and £5 for children can be purchased from tickettailor.com/events and friendsofashtonuponmerseyvillage/185688 or telephone 0161 976 5214

• To join the choir, telephone 07711 866 500.