MUSIC rang through the Colne Valley at the 130th Longwood Sing yesterday afternoon.

Hundreds of people, young and old, packed the open-air arena to perform a number of hymns and choral pieces from The Messiah.

Colne Valley Male Voice Choir and Golcar Band led the celebration, dubbed The Mother of All Sings.

Proceeds went to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Bartonians Sunday Luncheon Club.

Last year's event raised £700 for good causes.

Villagers filled the woodland amphitheatre as more singers spilled into the surrounding countryside.

Among them was the Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Barbara Allonby.

Church bells summoned people to the sunny Nab End tower as a Union Flag billowed from the top.

Local GP Dr Bert Jindal, the sing president, gave the opening speech. The hymn Go Tell It On The Mountain started the celebration. The programme finished with a rendition of Jerusalem.

The conductor was Brian Shaw and the organist Dr Geoffrey Lockwood. The speaker was the Rev Mike Smith.

Sing committee chairman Roger Womersley said that in the early days people used to start the sing at 7am. Now it is the culmination of events including concerts, art exhibitions and a church service.