A HIGH-flying choir wants to get into the record books by holding the World's loftiest concert.

Philomusica, which includes singers from Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, will be staging the attempt during an airline flight to the USA, where it is due to tour.

The singers will be trying to break the record set by the Dursley Male Voice Choir, from Gloucestershire, which has sung at 37,000ft.

American Airlines, which will be taking the choir to the States in October, said it will do all it can to boost Philomusica into the record books.

David Parsons, of Philomusica, said: "We've been talking to American Airlines for a couple of months and they're being very helpful.

"It obviously depends on the vagaries of the weather and air traffic control but I'm sure we will be able to do it. If we don't break the record on the way over, we'll get another bite of the cherry on the way back."

Once across the pond, the choir will be cementing Anglo-American relations with performances in the towns of Worcester and Gloucester, Massachusetts.

The programme will include popular classics by Parry, Elgar, Rutter and Vaughan, plus works by Richard Knight, formerly director of music at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, who will be accompanying the choir on its tour.

The choir is also looking for new members. Prospective singers are welcome to attend Philomusica's rehearsals on Mondays at Dean Close School, at Bromyard Road Methodist Church on Thursdays and at Milestones School, Longlevens, Gloucester, on Fridays.