A YORK barber shop chorus was singing with joy after making it through to the finals of a top national competition.

The 21 members of Main Street Sound, who practise at Bishopthorpe Social Club every Monday, impressed judges with their debut performance at a national contest in Birmingham. After scoring an impressive 654 points, the chorus will go on to the Ladies' Association of British Barbershop Singers finals, in Harrogate, in November.

Member Lynette Duggan said they were delighted to have done so well in their first competition.

Updated: 10:47 Saturday, April 19, 2003