WORCESTER schoolchildren will be among thousands of others to perform alongside pop star Lee Ryan when he headlines a choral event at Birmingham's NIA in December.

Young Voices - the organisation behind the world's largest children's choir concerts - has hosted an annual event in Birmingham for the past 10 years.

About 10,000 children from the Midlands - including schoolchildren from Worcester - will be performing alongside Ryan, formerly of boy band Blue, and other stars during two shows in December, with school choirs beginning to rehearse individually from September.

The concerts help to raise money for children's charities such as CLIC Sargent and Great Ormond Street.

Young Voices' marketing director, Ben Lewis, said: "It is great to have Lee on board for all of our concerts. Music can play a key role in children's development, particularly in encouraging confidence, as well as breaking down so many different social boundaries.

"Children need to be inspired by music and well-known artists like Lee are an integral part in generating interest and excitement."

With almost all concerts already fully subscribed, Lee will appear at a total of six venues with the Young Voices tour which will feature more than 50,000 school children from 2,000 schools.

Seven schools across Worcestershire took part last year, including St Barnabas and Lyppard Grange primaries, Worcester, Westlands First School, Droitwich and Witton Middle School, Catshill Middle School and Astwood Bank First School.

It is not yet know which schools will take part this year.