MEMBERS of a Bolton singing group forced to take their own security measures to protect their cars from being stolen are back on song -- thanks to a town centre hotel.

The Brixi Singers chamber group, which meets at St Mary's Hall, off St George's Road, had to organise their own patrols after several of their cars were stolen, or broken into, at a nearby council car park.

But they have now abandoned the patrols after being offered parking free of charge in the car park of the Moat House Hotel in Higher Bridge Street.

The singers approached the hotel in a last ditch attempt to find a safe parking area when they were considering finding somewhere new to rehearse.

But members of Bolton Catholic Musical Society, who rehearse at the hall on Friday evenings, have no other parking options as there are too many of them to use the Moat House and they cannot consider moving as they own the building.

They will have to continue patrolling the car park after a woman singer was recently mugged on her way home.

Her handbag containing money was stolen by two youths as she left the hall.

There have been more than 10 break-ins at the car park over the past six months and the singers now leave their glove compartments open to show potential thieves that they never leave belongings in the vehicles.

Alison Thompson, who is a member of both groups, has had her Peugeot 106 broken into three times at the Bath Street car park during the past year.

A Bolton Council spokesman said they were discussing safety at the car park with police.