FIVE Norwegian choirs will be in York from tomorrow to Sunday for the free Scandinavian Choral Festival.

First up for the Solheimkoret, Ha dur Moll, Harmony Singers, Fredheim Blandede Kor and Ledaal Vokalensemble choirs will be a choral singing contest at the York Guildhall from 7.30pm to 9pm tomorrow, when they each will perform two songs in this 15th century meeting place in St Helen's Square.

On Saturday, the choirs will head outdoors to each perform pop melodies and folk tunes for 15 to 20 minutes between 11am and 1pm in King's Square.

Later that day, they will be joined by the York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir at the Central Methodist Church, St Saviourgate, for a 7pm to 9pm concert of pop, folklore and church music.

The festival will culminate in a series of church performances on Sunday, when participating churches will include the Central Methodist Church, St Olave's, Marygate, St Clement's, Scarcroft Road, and St Denys's, Walmgate.

The festival has been organised by Escape Travel in partnership with Visit York. Marketing manager Michelle Brown said: “We're delighted that the Scandinavian Choral Festival is back in York again. The city has some of the UK’s finest concert venues, both indoor and out, which choirs are always keen to sing in.

"Saturday’s performance at Central Methodist Church will be a spectacular choral celebration, featuring our very own York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir.”