The hilltop town of Shaftesbury will be alive to the sound of music on Saturday (April 30) when Cor Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Choir) pay a welcome return visit.

This will be the famous Welsh choirs eighth appearance in Shaftesbury.

Concert organiser Susan Ballett explained: They first came at the invitation of St James Church (down over the hill in the small parish of St James), in the late 1980s and have managed to fit in return visits every three or four years ever since to the delight of everyone who hears them

The concerts are always held in the Shaftesbury School, which is the only venue locally large enough to hold the number of music lovers who are always anxious to enjoy their very special sound.

Under the baton of D Eifion Thomas, the choir never fails to raise the benchmark even higher.

It is something of a tradition that the choirs visit sees the introduction of guest artistes - usually local students on the threshold of a musical career.

This year there will be two Daniel Bovey, who plays classical guitar, and Bryony Purdue, a soprano singer.

Tickets are priced at 12.50 and are available at Reynolds shoe repair shop at the bottom of Shaftesbury town, at Hine and Parsons opposite the Town Hall, or by ringing 01747 854294.

The concert begins at 7pm and there is plenty of car parking either at the school or in the immediate area.

Cor Meibion Llanelli musical director Mr Thomas said the choirs programme would include a mix of traditional Welsh items alongside songs from the shows and some Negro spirituals.

It really is a varied programme with something for everyone. We thoroughly enjoy our visits to Shaftesbury and it is a great chance to meet up with Welsh exiles who may be feeling that hiraeth or longing for their homeland of Wales.