ONE of the most prolific and successful male voice choirs in the region are looking forward singing all over the south west this year - everywhere it seems but their home town of Budleigh Salterton.

ONE of the most prolific and successful male voice choirs in the region are looking forward singing all over the south west this year - everywhere it seems but their home town of Budleigh Salterton.

Budleigh Salterton Male Voice Choir are celebrating one of their most successful years, after raising more than �10,500 for charities and good causes.

But while they are booked to sing all over the region in 2009, sadly they don't seem to be in demand in their home town.

Formed over 35 years ago by a group of men who enjoyed singing purely for pleasure, today the choir has more than sixty fully paid up singing members.

The choir is prolific; in 2008 they sang all 17 of their concerts in the region and even had two visiting choirs singing with them.

Brian Hart, Vice chairman said: "We all belong because we enjoy singing and the pleasure really increases when we sing to appreciative audiences.

"In 2009 we are doing three concerts in Cornwall and many more, including one in Paignton with the Brixham Male Voice Choir, one in Bristol with their choir, one on our own at Tavistock and many more locally.

"But sadly none in our home town of Budleigh Salterton, because nobody has asked us to sing for them there."

He added they hoped to raise even more in 2009 than in 2008 and help many more charities with fund raising.

He added: "Already we have many bookings for 2010 and still have a few vacant dates but because of our size and because we bring our own staging and we have to decline the smaller venues.