Girls set to join cathedral choir

Girls are being invited to become members of the choir

About 900 years of tradition are to be broken when girls join boys in a Cumbria cathedral choir.

Carlisle Cathedral was founded in 1122 and the choir in 1133 and for the first time, girls are being allowed to join.

Currently boys, aged from eight to 13, are selected at voice trial and receive musical training.

They are also awarded an annual bursary and pocket money. An open afternoon is being held at the cathedral on Monday to encourage girls to be choristers.

When the choir began, it was made up of lay people and six boys. There are currently 16 choristers and six lay clerks.

The choristers were originally educated at the cathedral's own choir school but this closed in 1935 and nowadays the boys attend the cathedral five days a week, after school hours, and sing at six services a week.

The choir is looking for girls aged between seven and 11 to join its ranks.