A UKRAINIAN choir rescued by a Malvern woman from a disastrous visit to Britain 12 years ago will perform in Malvern Priory on November 23.

The Boyan Ensemble of Kiev - the Ukraine' s top professional male choir - will perform a mixture of sacred chants and traditional songs, joined by soprano soloist Valentina Ivanenko.

The choir arrived in Cardiff to tour the UK in 1992 to find their promoter had cancelled all the dates. With no money and no tour to fund their plane tickets home, they were desperate until Margerete Rolle, of Albert Road North, came to the rescue.

She accommodated the 30-strong choir in her four-bedroom home and arranged for them to sing at different venues.

Since then the choir has gone from strength to strength and is back in Britain for its 13th national tour, organised by Margarete.

"Malvern came to the rescue and they've been back every year ever since," she said, adding the choir considered Malvern to be home from home.

This year Malvern residents are putting up choir members while they are in the area.

The Ukrainians will perform at 22 venues across Britain. Audiences will have the chance to hear a bottom B flat sung live as some of the men can reach this difficult note.

"They're an amazing choir," said Margarete.

Tickets for the ensemble's concert, on Tuesday, November 23, in Malvern Priory at 7.30pm, are available from the Malvern Bookshop, Abbey Road on 01684 575915. They cost £12, £10 and £8 or £5 unreserved.