STEETON Male Voice Choir members will be sporting moustaches this weekend when they share the stage with a Bingley ladies choir.

The award-winning Steeton choir will perform alongside Opus 44 at the Octagon club on Bradford Road, Sandbeds, on Sunday afternoon.

Several men are growing moustaches as part of their contribution to the fundraising month of Movember.

Choir spokesman Eric Parker said: “It is not surprising that in a choir of almost 80 men that we have had problems of prostate, testicular cancer and mental health issues.

“At the beginning of November evidence of unshaven top lips began to appear and a dozen or so men were spurred on by Ron Horne to join the world-wide Movember movement to grow a moustache during the month.

“Each member is to raise at least £10 by sponsorship from family and friends.”

Mr Parker said this is the third or fourth year that choir members had been encouraged to take part.

During Sunday’s concert the Movember participants will be judged on who has the best moustache.

The women’s choir, Opus 44, was formed in 1984 and rehearses at Bingley United Reformed Church.

This award-winning choir performs at concerts, festivals and private events, and has been successful at many prestigious local and national competitions. The members also enjoy performing charity concerts.

A spokesman said: “Members are from all walks of life, from across Yorkshire and Lancashire.

“They share a passion for singing a diverse range of music, sometimes ambitious, from the Renaissance through to the present day.

“Recent performances include a sell-out concert in Bingley in June, featuring some young accomplished musician friends, held in memory of Pam Cooper, a much-missed member of the choir.

“The appreciative audience requested an encore and enjoyed the choir's own arrangement of Harry, Pam's favourite song. Nine past members sitting in the audience were delighted to join the choir on stage for this emotional finale.”

The concert raised £750 for the Alzheimer's Society.

Opus 44’s most recent performance was at Biddulph Music Festival, where they were delighted to win the President Ladies Choir Class against outstanding competition.

Opus 44 welcomes new members, holding regular ‘open rehearsals’, although interested women can attend at any time. Contact Janet Purvis on 01535 637419 for further information.

The joint concert is on Sunday at (November 30) 2.30pm . E-mail tickets@steetonmvc.co.u or call 01274 598221 to book tickets, which cost £8.

Tickets also cost £8 for Steeton Male Voice Choir’s end-of-year concert at All Saints Church, Bingley, on December 13 at 7.30pm.