FINAL preparations are underway for the staging of a concert at a popular Chester church to raise much-needed funds for a national motor neurone disease charity.

The concert, to be staged at 3pm on Sunday, February 17, at Hoole Methodist Church, Hamilton Street, Chester, will feature The Hawarden Singers, a mixed choir with a varied repertoire which includes everything from Bach to The Beatles.

The choir, conducted by Malcolm Williams, is well known in the Chester and North Wales area and recently received critical acclaim for its performance of the Faure Requiem alongside Cor Cilcain.

The performance in Hoole will feature music to suit all tastes, including music by Oliver! composer Lionel Bart, John Denver and the ever popular "Guardian Angel" written by acclaimed Welsh composer Robat Arwyn in tribute to the vital work of the Welsh Air Ambulance and first performed by Sir Bryn Terfel in 2008.

The Hoole event is part of a popular series of monthly Sunday afternoon concerts presented by the Hamilton Street Methodist Church featuring top local choirs and soloists plus some famous names which have included American Organ Virtuoso Carlo Curley, International Concert Harpist Eira Lynn Jones and The Fron Male Voice Choir.

The concert by the Hawarden Singers will be raising much need funds to help The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MDNA) provide local support to those in the area affected by Motor Neurone Disease, for which there is no known cure as well as helping to fund research into the crippling illness. Following the concert which will be of around 50 minutes duration, there will light refreshments and a retiring collection with all proceeds going to the MNDA Charity.

Full details of the concert can be found at www.hoolemethodistchurch.org.uk and tickets can be reserved by contacting John Evans on 01244 674878/07939645688 or via email at angiejohnevans@uwclub.net