No experience necessary for members of new choir

Musical Director Martin Palmer starts the session with a vocal warm-up

A new community choir has been launched in Bodmin and members do not need to have any experience.

More than 20 people attended the initial Good Afternoon Choir in St Petroc's Parish Centre, which would become a weekly session every Tuesday, organisers said.

It is part of a growing band of Good Afternoon Choirs that exist across the south-west of England introduced by Bath music man Grenville Jones in 2009.

Alison Littlewood took along Hero the dog and said: "I just asked the choirmaster and he gave it the nod, and she quite enjoyed it because she loves people. I just find it uplifting to sing."

Alison Littlewood took Hero to the first choir session as "she loves people", she said

Musical director and pianist Martin Palmer said: "I've always done choirs... good fun."

At the first gathering, he did a quick vocal warm-up and then immediately got the group into song.

"That's what singing is all about, isn't it. It's a real leveller that everybody can take part in and just join in straight away," he said.

He runs other Good Afternoon Choirs, including in Falmouth on a Wednesday afternoon, Helston on a Thursday afternoon and then occasionally Truro Chamber Choir in the city cathedral on a Monday or Friday.

"Retirement just seems to get busier," he said.

Linda Tims said she joined because of the "comradeship, really".

She said: "Just to get out of the home a bit and do something that I enjoy.

"I haven't got the worry of walking up steep hills in the dark anymore and go home in the light, so it's nice."