Hand and Hand Festival and rugby take over Cardiff

The Barberfellas are one of the acts from the UK and Ireland set to perform

Wales is "most famous" for two things - singing and rugby - and both have been taking over the country's capital this weekend, according to Nigel Owens.

The rugby referee has welcomed 30 choirs to Cardiff for the biennial Hand in Hand LGBT+ music festival.

About 1,000 singers are performing at different venues and have mixed with fans attending Wales' World Cup warm-up match at the Principality Stadium.

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Owens, who is gay, said: "Wales is perhaps most famous for two things - rugby and singing - and this weekend it is fantastic that we are going to have a celebration of both in our capital city."

While he said the events show what a "diverse and welcoming" city Cardiff is, he will not be there as he is preparing for the Rugby World Cup in Japan next month.

Among the choirs performing are the London-based Barberfellas, the Dublin Gay Men's Chorus and the Liverpool Rainbow Chorus.

A gala concert at St David's Hall features the South Wales Gay Men's Chorus, The Songbirds Choir and the Cardiff Trans Singers.

There are also events at the Norwegian Church, Millennium Centre and Cornerstone throughout the day.

The Hand in Hand Festival began in London and Cardiff is its fourth host city.