A school choir from north Norfolk has made it through to a national competition final at its first attempt.

The chapel choir, at Gresham's Prep School, in Holt, will travel to The Barbican Centre in London on March 3 to take part in the final of Barnardo's Choral Competition.

The Gresham's choristers, aged between eight and 12, have only been singing together for one term but qualified for a place in the final after being chosen as one of the top 16 junior choirs in the country.

A panel of judges at the Barbican will be chaired by Douglas Coombes MBE, composer, conductor and music consultant for the BBC's Songs of Praise School choir competition.

Winning choirs from the competition will be invited to sing at Barnardo's Young Supporters' Concert on June 6 at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Choir conductor Nathan Waring, who is director of music at Gresham's Prep School, said the young choir's success was a marvellous achievement.

He added: 'They work very hard in rehearsals to achieve the highest possible standard of singing – and have a lot of fun as well.'

The choir's other engagements this term include a trip to the chapel of King's College, Cambridge, and performing in weekly school chapel services and concerts.