A new group of barbershop singers is looking forward to its first competitive performance.

Ridgeway Harmony is a male-only chorus and is part of the Swindon Barbershop Harmony Club, which formed 18 months ago.

The club was accepted into the British Association of Barbershop Singers in the spring, which means the chorus will now be allowed to compete in the southern preliminaries for the annual British barbershop contest for the first time.

They will take to the stage in Exeter in December and if they are voted among the top 20 of the 28 groups participating, they will progress to the finals in Glasgow next May.

Director of the chorus, Ann Scherzinger, said they are remaining realistic about their chances of getting through.

"The competition will be very stiff," she said. "There are going to be clubs with much larger choruses and ones that have been around a long time.

"But whatever happens, we intend to enjoy ourselves and with a bit of luck, we might get through."

The club was set up when five men broke off from another Shrivenham-based group in February 1999 and has mushroomed to 16 chorus members.

They are already deep in rehearsals at St Margaret's Church Hall in Stratton St Margaret and are also preparing for an upcoming performance at Ogbourne Downs Golf Club near Ogbourne St George on Saturday, November 18.

Anyone interested in joining the club can contact Ann on 01249 650726.