THEY might not speak many words in Ukrainian, but they can certainly sing them.

And that's the opinion of those who know, including a local newspaper in Lviv in Ukraine where the singers of Vocal Expressions have just spent an exciting and overwhelming week.

The trip was organised to continue building the links which the Holme Valley-based choir has been steadily building with MRIYA, the Ukrainian national choir.

The visit, say choir members, has been an emotional rollercoaster ride. "Even the husbands who came with us were overwhelmed by the hospitality that the Ukrainian people gave. We were all treated like royalty. It was very humbling," said choir chairwoman Dianne Robinson.

"We were televised performing a concert for their national channel 5 television programme and a piece on us was placed in their local newspaper." The gist of that was that the Valley ladies got their sung pronunciation of Ukrainian words just right.

"We had a superb time and have built up such strong bonds with MRIYA that I do hope we can see them again," said Dianne.

The two choirs have been building links for the past three years. When Vocal Expressions bought new concert dresses, they decided to donate their previous uniform to a another choir - in Ukraine.

This brought a visit to Huddersfield last year by MRIYA, the Ukrainian national choir, who shared a concert platform with Vocal Expressions. Now that visit has being returned in a trip which has been much anticipated by the Vocal Expressions' members and worked hard for with a series of fundraising events.