DOZENS of men have taken their first steps to learning to sing.

Following weeks of preparation, the four-part harmony Rivertones opened a Learn to Sing course last Thursday at Oakwood Church Centre, in Taunton.

More than 40 men enrolled and joined the current chorus for the first week of a free eight-week course designed to appeal to anyone who has an interest in singing.

Some of the attendees have no experience of singing and others are returning to singing after long breaks.

They do not need to be able to read music and newcomers are being asked whether they feel most comfortable as a lead, bass, baritone or tenor.

A Rivertones spokesman said: "The course is extremely well-structured and all newcomers are given a weekly breakdown of what they will be doing.

"Each session will begin with a simple physical warm up followed by a vocal warm up before the main part of each evening begins.

"Each delegate will work in his voice section first before coming together in the main chorus.

"Apprehension on the faces of newcomers as they arrived was replaced by elation as they departed proud of what they had achieved in just two hours."

There is still time to enrol, but you'll need to be quick - e-mail peterelliston2@btinternet.com or call 01823-256656 if interested.