THE thought of singing at the Royal Albert Hall in London is a daunting prospect for any choir

But the Bolton Hospital Choir also has another challenge - to sing the Welsh National Anthem in Welsh!

The choir which was formed in the 1970s, is busy rehearsing for a bumper festive season which kicks off next Monday and Tuesday when they take part in the annual Sargent Cancer Care for Children concerts at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

And once they have tuned up their vocal chords they will be heading off to the capital next Friday for a one off special Millennium Carol concert.

The choir is made up of consultants, nurses, clerical staff, midwives and retired NHS employees - and even the Chief executive who was disappointed at missing the Manchester concerts last year that this time he has cleared his diary specially.

Secretary of the 28-strong choir Margaret Lansom who by day is the outpatient clinic co-ordinator, explained how the whole choir give up their time to get involved.

"We start rehearsing about August or September when we get the programme and then it can be difficult to fit in round the shift system.

"Everyone works together for charity and a lot of people give up a lot of time," said Mrs Lansom.

"We are all excited about singing at the Royal Albert Hall. We don't know yet if anyone famous will be there. We have had to learn the Welsh National Anthem which is just as daunting as singing in such a large venue.

She got involved about three years ago when there was a recruitment drive - "They put notes in our pay slips asking us to join, so I did," she added.

"The problem is we tend to lose a lot of singers as people move around and have other commitments. We are desperately in need of male singers who can read music."

Mrs Lansom is appealing to everyone to support them at the Bridgewater Hall and all staff at the hospitals have been e-mailed wit the dates.

"All the money raised goes back to help children in the North West," she said.

The Sargent Concerts were started after the death of the famous conductor when a group of "promenaders" decided to raise money for children's charities. As a result the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children was formed and money has been raised through concerts throughout the UK. The first Manchester concert was in 1972. Bolton takes part alongside other hospital choirs from Blackburn, Nottingham and Stockport.